THE WIGEON. 
245 
L have never observed the eggs to he covered in the birds’ 
absence, but niy opportunities of even seeing the nest have 
been few, nor can I obtain any enlightenment upon the 
subject from the natives. As soon as tlie young are strong 
upon tlie wing, they accompany the mother to the low grounds, 
where they hide in the deep burns, seldom venturing to show 
themselves upon the lochs until attracted to them by the 
arrival of the autumn birds. After having driven a Teal from 
her nest, I have twice seen her return, but that was only 
when the nature of the ground was unusually favourable for 
concealment j she flew directly back to the spot, alighting 
abruptly, — it seemed close in front of the nest. Once, in the 
twilight, when I crept up to a nest, the female uttered a very 
peculiar sound, resembling the low continued croaking of a 
frog, for perhaps half a minute before flying off. That it 
proceeded from the bird I am certain, the frog not being included 
in the Shetland fauna. 
THE WIGEON. 
Anas Penelope. 
The Wigeon visits Shetland regularly in September and 
October on its way southwards, leaving a few small parties to 
remain during the winter, but returning in much greater num- 
bers in spring. Probably a few breed every year, but it has 
so happened that I have only seen or heard of such instances 
in cold backward seasons. It seems not to occur in large 
flocks, more than about twenty birds seldom or never being 
seen. Adult males are always very scarce. I have received 
eggs from Yell, Unst, and Hascosea, and have no doubt that 
they are also found in the more unfrequented parts of the Main- 
land. The nest is placed just where it would be first looked 
for, in tall herbage near water. The first I saw was on Her- 
man ess, in Unst, upon a piece of marshy ground. It was 
amongst some tall withered grass, and was rather large, and 
