WIGEOX. 
that describe the numl)ers met with on the Dornoch Eirth. How confiding and unsuspicious of danger this 
specms is at the commencement of the shooting-season, and when first arriving on our shores, would scarcely be 
credited except by those who have witnessed their actions. 
“ October 10, 18G8. Immense flocks of Wigeon on the firth and also on the flats at low Avater. The birds 
proved exceedingly tame, running and paddling round the punt when we took the ground, and were left on the 
sands by the ebb tide before moving to get our craft afloat again, as we had remained quiet in order to make 
observations.” 
“December 7, 1868. Great numbers of Wigeon further up the firth near Invershin, the big pool some 
distance above the railway bridge being almost covered by a mass of birds.” 
“ IMarch 4, 1869. Between three and four hundred Wigeon on the Kyle * nearly opposite Inveran, some 
on the large blocks of ice, many swimming on tlie water, and several cleaning their feathers on the banks, at 
the side of the river. As we came up in the punt to procure some of the Wigeon, the ice broke into several 
parts, and at once drifting down with the tide, divided the birds and spoiled our chance of making a heavy 
shot. We kept on till a large block of ice, rolling round, Avas just about to strike the bows of the punt, and 
then I Avas forced to pull the trigger and only six-and-twenty were collected ; had we arrived on the spot a few 
minutes earlier, twice that number might easily have been obtained.” 
On the 11th of March, 1869, I was at the Little Ferry, a small muddy harbour near Golspie in Sutherland, 
and while coming down the channel on the ebb from the upper part, we sighted some Wigeon spread out on 
a mussel-scarp, and all resting quietly. Having noticed them in time, I Avas enabled to make preparations, 
and Avhen we arrived Avithin range the punt-gun Avas discharged, and only one from the outside of the line 
got on AAung, and he AA as speedily turned over by the 10-bore breechloader, and a cripple that attempted to make 
off by diving into the water Avas stopped by the second barrel. When the slain Avere collected, they proA^ed to be 
fifteen Wigeon, all drakes. 
I have occasionally known Wigeon to remain on Hickling Broad all through summer ; these birds ahvays 
exhibited immature plumage, and were doubtless either Aveakly or had suffered from wounds, and Avere unable 
to folloAV their stronger relatives. The marslimen Avere of opinion that they Avere Garganey Teal, till I shot 
one or tAvo, in order that their identity should be established. 
On a few of the Norfolk Broads in the east of the county these birds are knoAvn among the natives of that 
remote district by the name of the “ Smee.” 
Bewick, in his ‘ History of British Birds ’ (published in 1804), gives a short, but quaint and amusing 
description of the habits of this species : — 
“ The Wigeons commonly fiy, in small flocks, during the night, and may be known from others by their 
Avhistling note Avhen they arc on Aving. They are easily domesticated in places where there is plenty of Avater, 
and are much admired for their beauty, sprightly look, and busy, frolicsome manners.” 
I have kept several Wigeon in confinement, but as there u ere never any signs of their nesting, I tried 
other species. Nearly all were as tame as the Wild Ducks, though a fcAv proA'ed timid and sought the 
shelter of the bushes and shrubs round the pond AA'heuever the enclosure in w^hich they AA'^ere confined AA'as 
visited. They AAcre exceedingly fond of snapping up any insects that came in their Avay. I noticed that a 
duck, standing on the edge of the pond in company Avith a drake, on the evening of the 30th of June, 1884, 
turned her head and ran rapidly to the rough grass under a clump of AvilloAvs near which I was sitting Avatching 
the AAildfoAAd, and caught a fine poplar hawk-moth, Avhich Avas craAvling up the stems of the grass, and 
devouied it. I see by the entries in my notes that these birds also captured and sAvalloAvcd the daddy- 
long-legs hovering about near the pond, during Sc 2 )tember the same year. 
the Kjlo of Sutherland is described on Black’s map of Scotland as extending from some few miles above Inveran to about tis many 
miles below Invershin. 
