COMMON WIDGEON. 133 
throughout India ; in the rivers and tanks, found 
in large flocks." 
They are frequently kept in confinement, and 
thrive well, though they have not, Mr. Yarrell 
states, bred in this condition, — that is, the female 
has not laid eggs or incubated naturally, while the 
male has mated occasionally with the pintail, and 
with some varieties of the domestic duck. The 
following notice, however, taken from the Gardener’s 
Chronicle, seems to be an instance of breeding, at 
least in a partial confinement. 
“ A few years since a pair of widgeons were 
kept in the river which bounds the Botanic Garden 
at Bury St. Edmunds. The male bird was shot 
during the winter, and the following spring was 
succeeded by a wild one (no doubt attracted by the 
call of the female), by whom it had several young 
ones, which all left at the usual period of migration, 
except the pinioned parent. Last year a male bird 
again made its appearance, and another brood was 
the consequence ; a small portion of their wings have 
been taken off, and they are now become as tame as 
any of the water-fowl.” * 
The male widgeon, like most of the other ducks, 
receives his full and beautiful plumage in complete 
perfection in spring, putting it on in winter, but 
gradually attaining more brilliancy as the season for 
pairing advances; while, after incubation, it be- 
comes of a more unobtrusive description, approach- 
ing nearly to that of the female. 
* N. S. Hodson. Gard. Chronicle for April 1842. 
