WIGEON 237 



Wigeon. 

 Mareca penelope. 



Fig. 79.— Wigeon. 



Bill dull blue ; forehead and crown cream- white ; chin, neck, 

 ajid throat chestnut ; the cheeks and hind neck minutely spotted 

 with deep green ; breast white ; under parts grey, the flanks pencilled 

 with dark grey ; mantle vermiculated grey ; shoulder white, with 

 a terminal bar of black, followed by a green speculum tipped with 

 black below ; wing- and tail-feathers dark brown ; legs and feet 

 dark brown. Length, eighteen inches. Female : above, mottled 

 greyish brown ; shoulder whitish ; speculum greyish green ; under 

 parts mottled bufHsh white. The drake assumes female plumage 

 in July. 



Next to the mallard, the wigeon is the most familiar freshwater 

 duck in the British Islands. Its abundance, handsome plumage, 

 peculiar voice, and interesting habits, to say nothing of its excellence 

 as an article of food, contribute to make it well known. It is a 

 visitor in winter in very large numbers to our coasts, and seeks 

 its food both on the tidal flats and on inland waters throughout the 

 country, but is always most abundant in the vicinity of the sea. 



