THE wiGEON. 277 



prominent, the tail is rather more acuminate, and the central 

 feathers extend somewhat beyond the lateral ones. The bill 

 is small and gradually tapering towards the tip. The above 

 characters are given for the genus by Count Salvador!, and 

 to them must be added the style of plumage, which is well 

 pronounced ; thus, though many rece:U writers have placed 

 the Gadwalls, Shovelers, and ^Vigeon in the genus A?tas, I 

 thoroughly agree with Count Salvador! that they should be 

 separated as distinct genera. Three species of Wigeon are 

 known, our British bird {Af. penelope)^ the American Wigeon 

 (J/, americand)^ and M. sibilatrix from South America. 



I. THE WIGEON. MARECA PENELOPE. 



Anas penelops^ Linn. S. N. i. p. 202 (1766). 



Afias peneiope, Gm. Syst. Nat. i. p. 527 (1788); Seebohm, Br. 



B. iii. p. 539 (1885). 

 Mareca penelope^ Macg. Br. B. v. p. Z^ (1852) ; Dresser, B. Eur. 



vi. p. 541, pis. 432, 433 (1876); B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 



123 (188,3); Saunders, ed. Yarr. Brit. B. iv. p. 397 



(1885) ; id. Man. p. 425 (1889) ; LiUord, Col. Fig. Br. B. 



pnrt XV. (1890); Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 227 



(^895). 



Adult Male. — General colour above grey, with fine vermicula- 

 tions of darker grey, the lower back and rump more finely 

 vermiculated ; the sides of the lower rump white ; central tail- 

 coverts grey, w^ith coarser vermiculations and the ends of the 

 feathers white, the lateral upper tail-coverts velvety-black ; lesser 

 wing-coverts grey, very finely vermiculated ; the median- and 

 greater wing-coverts pure white, forming a large patch, the latter 

 tipped with velvety-black, forming the upper border to the 

 speculum ; bastard-wnng, primary-coverts, and quills ashy-grey, 

 the inner webs dusky, with a mirror of buff on the inner web 

 of the primaries; the secondaries grey internally, metallic- 

 green externally, but black at the ends, this forming the wing- 

 speculum ; the next inner secondary white externally, forming 

 an inner border to the speculum, the next three inner second- 

 aries externally velvety-black, with white shafts, the innermost 

 grey with darker vermiculations like the scapulars ; crown of 

 head light cinnamon-buff, paler on the lores ; the hinder 



