2 WIGEON.
Hunt, describe the numbers met with on the Dornoch Firth. How confiding mid unsuspicious of danger this
species is at the Commencement of the shooting-season, and when first arriving on our sliores, would scarcely be
credited except by I hose who have witnessed their action*.
" October 10, 1808. Immense flocks of Wigeon on the firth and also on the flats at low water. The birds
proved exceedingly tunic, running and paddling round the punt when we took the ground, and were left ou the
sands by the eld) tide before moving to get our craft afloat agaiu, as we had remained quiet in order to make
observations."
"December 7, 1808. Great numbers of Wigeon further up the firth near Inversbm, the big pool some
distance above the railway bridge being almost covered by a mass of birds."
" March ft, JSOt). Between three and four hundred Wigeon on the Kyle* nearly opposite Inveran, some
on the large blocks of ice, many swimming on the water, and several cleaning their feathers on the banks, at
the side of fhe 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, was just about to strike the hows of the punt, and
then I was forced to pull fhe (rigger and only six-aud-twenly were collected ; had we arrived ou the spot a few
minutes earlier, twice that number might easily have been obtained."
On the 11th of March, 18G9, 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 ou
a mussel-scarp, and all resting quietly. Having noticed them in time, I was enabled to make preparations,
and when we arrived within range the punt-gun was discharged, and only one from the outside of the line
got on wing, and he was speedily turned over by the 10-borebreechloader, and a cripple that attempted to make
oil' by diving into fhe water was stopped by the second barrel. When the slain were collected, they proved to be
fifteen Wigeon, all drakes.
I have occasionally known Wigeon to remain on Hickling Broad all through summer; these birds always
exhibited immature plumage, and were doubtless either weakly or hail suffered from wounds, and were unable
to follow their stronger relatives. The marshmen were of opinion that they were Garganey Teal, till I shot
one or two, in order that their identity should be established.
On a few of the Norfolk Broads in the east of the county these birds are known among the natives of that
remote district by the name of the "Smee."
Bewick, in bis ' History of British Birds' (published in 1801), gives a short, but quaint and amusing
description of the habits of this species :—
" The Wigeons commonly fly, in small flocks, during the night, and may be known from others by their
whistling note when they arc on wing. They are easily domesticated in places where then? is plenty of water,
and an' much admired for their beauty, sprightly look, and busy, frolicsome manners."
I have kept several Wigeon in cunGnenicut, but as there were never any signs of their nesting, 1 tried
other species. Nearly all were as tame as the Wild Ducks, though a few proved timid and sought the
shelter of the bushes and shrubs round the pond whenever the enclosure in which they were confined was
visited. They were exceedingly fond of snapping up any insects that came in their way. I noticed that a
duck, standing on the edge of the pond in company with a drake, on the evening of the 30lh of June, 1684,
turned her head and ran rapidly to the rough grass uudera clump of willows near which I was sitting watching
the wildfowl, and caught a fine poplar hawk-moth, which was crawling up Hie stems of the grass, and
devoured it. I see by the entries in my notes that these birds also captured and swallowed the daddylong
legs hovering about near the pond, during September the same year.
WIGEON.
Here is a note referring to the well-known call of the drake Wigeon :—"February 22, 1984. Drakes
commencing to whistle. The mandibles ore opened wide for several seconds before a sound is emitted." It
is also stated that these birds were particularly noisy about the end of October, calling continually for several
hours when their haunts «ere no! intruded ou by strangers ; as I was a frequent visitor, little notice was
takeu of my pretence.