The Wigeon 43 
occasion seen the entire stock of Wigeon frequenting a certain firth merged 
into one great gathering, which could not have contained less than five to 
seven thousand birds. 
In a regular feeding-ground, generally some long open stretch of mud 
covered with Zostera Marina, it is interesting to see the careful manner 
in which Wigeon approach it. The first little pack will come flying up 
against the wind and alight on the water, at about two or three hundred 
yards from the shore, after having previously swung round once or twice to 
ascertain that no enemy is approaching. This generally takes place when the 
tide is half-ebbed. Out on the water they remain packed close together and 
very quiet till the first green fronds of their favourite food are observed float- 
ing on the surface away inshore. Then the whole gathering begins slowly 
going shorewards, till, at last, one bird bolder than the rest swims in and 
commences picking at the floating weed. Even then they are subject to sudden 
fears, and, when about to follow their leader, will often suddenly put up their 
necks and swim rapidly out, the cocks whistling loudly. Once, however, 
they have reached the food, their taste for more generally asserts itself, and 
precautions against surprise are somewhat relaxed as they one and all move 
in to still shallower water and commence to turn upside down so as to pull 
up the Zostera and eat the root, by far the most succulent part. 
Now other small packs keep coming in from the sea, and unless they are 
unusually watchful they will fly straight in and alight right amongst the 
feeding birds instead of swimming to them. In this way the big feeding 
pack is gradually formed, half of which move ashore to gutter about or tear 
up the roots, but keep within a short distance of the retreating water-line. It 
is on occasions like this that the punter in this country looks for his shot ; 
but, in Holland, Mr. Popham tells me that nearly all the shooting is done 
at resting packs, for there the birds can be attacked with safety right out in 
the open waters — a mode of shooting that is both detrimental and highly 
dangerous in most British fowling-grounds. 
Sometimes Wigeon, which are both conservative as to their beats and 
G 2 
