54 
The Natural History of British Ducks 
wild duck assuming the plumage of the male after the power of egg-laying is 
past, but this is due to the enormous number of these birds which are kept in 
confinement ; whereas the number of Wigeon under close observation is com- 
paratively few. 
Nearly all old female Wigeon show a tendency towards the plumage of 
the old male by getting a much lighter and sometimes a nearly white 
shoulder. { 
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