350 BEITISH BIBDS' XESTS. 



ground colour, spotted and speckled witli asli-grey, 

 greenisli-brown, and umber-brown. The markings 

 generally form a belt round tlie larger end. Size 

 about -66 by '52 in. Distinguished by small size, 

 clean ground colour, and bold belt-inclining spots. 



Time. — May, June, and July. 



HemarliS, — Migratory, arriving in xVpril and 

 leaving in September. Notes: call, cliecl\ repeated 

 several times, and an incessant chattering, some- 

 times loud and grating, at others low and not 

 unpleasant. Local or other names : none. Sits 

 closely. 



WIGEON. 



Description of Parent i^/rc/.s. -—Length about 

 eighteen inches ; bill rather short, narrow, highish 

 at the base, and bluish-grey, tipped wdth black. 

 Irides dark brown. Forehead and crown cream 

 colour ; rest of head and upper j^art of neck rich 

 bay, almost black on the chin and throat. A streak 

 of green passes backward from the eye, and the 

 cheeks and neck are minutely spotted with blackish- 

 green ; back and scapulars greyish-wdiite, barred 

 wath fine irregular lines of black ; wing-coverts 

 white, tipped with black ; outer w^ebs of secondaries 

 green, tipped wdth black; tertials or inner secondaries 

 black on the outer webs, which are broadly margined 

 with wdiite ; jnimaries dusky brown ; upper tail- 

 coverts freckled with grey ; tail feathers long, wedge- 

 shaped, and dusky-black, mixed with grey and 

 brown ; low^er part of the neck and shoulders pale 

 red ; breast, belly, and vent wdiite ; sides and flanks 

 marked wdth fine undulating lines of black ; under 

 ta,il-coverts rich black ; legs, toes, and w^ebs dark 

 brown. 



