EUROPEAN WIGEON. 87 



the breast and abdomen white ; the feathers under the tail 

 white, barred with brown, as are the smaller lower wing- 

 coverts ; the larger pale grey. The stomach an inch and a 

 half in length, two inches and a quarter in breadth ; the in- 

 testine five feet six inches long ; the coeca nine inches in 

 length, two-twelfths in breadth at the base, and four-twelfths 

 in their widest part. 



Length to end of tail IQ^- inches ; extent of Avings 32^ ; 

 wing from flexure 10 ; tail 4 ; bill along the ridge 1 j, from 

 frontal angles Ij^^, its height at the base -f^, breadth at the 

 middle ^, behind the unguis -^-j ; bare part of tibia -^ ; 

 tarsus 1^^ ; hind toe -j^, its claw -f^ ; second toe 1-^, its claw 

 -pj ; third toe 1^, its claw -^ ; fourth toe 1-^-^) its claw ^. 



Variations. — In adult males in winter the white on the 

 upper part of the head varies in extent and in tint, being 

 more or less tinged with red ; the black spots on the head 

 and neck are more or less numerous ; the black on the throat 

 continuous or in spots ; the light vinaceous tint on the lower 

 part and sides of the neck more or less red or giey. The 

 tints on the other parts also vary. The females vary m\ich 

 less in colour. Younger individuals, however, exhibit a 

 great variety of appearances. 



Habits. — The Wigeons begin to make their appearance 

 in Britain toward the end of September, gradually increase 

 in number, disperse over most parts of the country, continue 

 through the wdnter and spring, and depart in the end of 

 March and beginning of April. In the north of Scotland 

 they are uncommon ; on its north-west coast scarcely ever 

 seen ; in the outer Hebrides, I believe, never ; but in Orkney 

 they are very numerous, and may be seen on all the lochs ; 

 and as we proceed southward we find them gradually be- 

 coming more plentiful, until in the southern parts of England 

 they are more abundant than any other species of Duck. 

 Montagu states that it " appears to be the most plentiful 

 species of Duck that is taken in our decoys. More are 

 caught in the decoys of Somersetshire and Devonshire than 

 Duck, Teal, and all other wild fowl collectively, as we are 



