116 ANATIDAG 
AMERICAN WIGEON. WMareca americana (J. F. Gmelin). 
Coloured Figures. —Dresser, ‘ Birds of Europe,’ vol. ix, pl. 707; 
Lilford, Coloured Figures,’ vol. vii, pl. 42. 
I know of only two well authenticated instances of this 
very rare visitor. A specimen was obtained by Mr. Bartlett 
in a London market in the winter of 1837-38. In February 
of 1895, after a lapse of fifty-seven years, Sir Ralph Payne- 
Gallwey secured, through Mr. R. Lee, of Thirsk, a young 
male from a game-dealer in Leeds. 
The few Scotch and Irish occurrences are so unsub- 
stantiated that the American Wigeon may be excluded 
from the avifauna of these countries. 
In the ‘Zoologist’ for 1901, p. 411, Mr. F. Coburn 
gives an interesting account of an expedition to the north 
of Iceland, where he discovered the American Wigeon 
breeding. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.—Crown of head, dull 
white; on each side of the head, a broad streak of green 
extends from the eye to the hind-neck; cheeks, chin, throat, 
neck, whitish, speckled with black; back, brownish, vermi- 
culated with black; wing-coverts, hght brown shading to 
white; speculum, metallic-green edged above with black ; 
primaries, brown; inner secondaries elongated, black with 
white edges; breast and sides, reddish-brown; abdomen, 
white; tail, brown. 
Adult male, post-nuptial or eclipse-—Somewhat re- 
sembles the female plumage. 
Adult female nuptial—Head and neck, yellowish-white 
speckled with black; breast duller than that of the male; 
back, dark brown. 
Adult winter, male and female——Similar to the respective 
nuptial plumages. 
Immature, male and female—Resembles the female, but 
the young male has a more defined wing-pattern. 
BeEAK. Greyish-blue with a black tip. 
Feet. Bluish. 
IntpEs. Brown. 
Eaes. Pure white: clutch, seven to ten. 
