110 
ANATIDiE. 
The following note on the instinct of a wigeon appears in the 
MS. journal of the late John Templeton, Escp: — “August 3, 
1810. Being accustomed to have tamed wild-fowl * * * I 
have remarked that the cry expressive of danger was understood 
by all, though of different species, and never heard by them be- 
fore. Some years ago I had a tamed wigeon (Anas _peneldpe), 
which was accustomed to go about my house. On a hawk 
appearing in sight, a common hen gave the scream of terror, and 
the wigeon, perfectly understanding that danger was at hand, fled 
to me for protection, and remained crouched close to my feet till 
all apprehension of peril was past/”* 
A wild-fowl shooter has remarked to me, from his own expe- 
rience, that shelldrakes, scaups, wigeon, teal, and brent geese, are 
much more easily tamed than the mallard or wild duck. Winged 
wigeon, placed on the pond at the Balls, soon became tame, but 
never bred either among themselves or with other species. The 
males were pugnaciously disposed towards each other. 
On examining the food contained in a number of wigeon shot 
in Belfast Bay at various periods, and in weather of all kinds, I have 
found only the remains of vegetable matter and sand. Their 
food, like that of the brent geese, is the Zoster a. As this plant 
is to be had during their stay, they are considered good for 
the table all the time ; unlike those on the Northumberland 
coast, that are obliged to resort to a different kind of food which 
renders them rank after Christmas. t An observant shooter is of 
opinion that the brent geese and wigeon nip off the withered top 
of the Zostera, and eat the heart and root of the plant — but they 
certainly eat the sound portions of the long leaves also. Our 
wigeon, thus living in the midst of plenty, are not disposed 
or compelled, like the American species described by Wilson, to 
rob either the canvas-backed duck or any of its tribe of their 
labours . % In February 1848, I was sent a plant found in a 
wigeon by one of our oldest wild-fowl shooters, who reported his 
* Communicated to Mrs. Priscilla Wakefield, for her ‘ Anecdotes of Animals.’ 
f Selby, vol. ii. p. 325. 
+ Sir William Jardine’s edition of ‘ Amer. Ornith.’ vol. iii. p. 110. 
