THE WIGEON. 507 



same peculiarity, and by this note the bird may often 

 be distinguished from others of the same tribe, when 

 so far off that the eye fails to identify it. The Wigeon 

 ranks next to the Teal and Wild Duck as an article of 

 food, and, being more plentiful than either of these birds, 

 it is among the best known of all the Ducks which frequent 

 our shores. "We cannot, however, claim it, as we can both 

 of the above birds, as a native of England, since it has not 

 been known to breed with us, and is never seen during 

 summer. A very few instances are recorded of its 

 having bred in the north of Scotland, which must be 

 considered as the extreme southern boundary of its 

 summer residence. 



Flocks of Wigeons repair to our shores in autumn, and 

 either betake themselves to. inland lakes and morasses, or 

 keep to the coast, especially where there are extensive salt 

 marshes. In winter their numbers are greatly increased, 

 especially in the south ; and, as they feed by day as well as 

 by night, they offer themselves a ready prey ito the fowler. 

 Their food consists of marine and fresh-water insects, small 

 shell-fish, sea-weed, and grass. Their nidification differs 

 little from that of the Teal. 



THE AMEKICAN WIGEOK 



ANAS AMERICANA. 



Head dull white, speckled below with black ; behind the eye a green streak 

 passing backward; upper part of the back reddish brown marked with 

 minute zigzag dusky lines ; lower part of the back brown ; speculum green 

 tipped with black ; lower part of the neck and flanks reddish brown ; breast 

 and belly white ; bill black ; irides hazel ; feet dark brown. Female The 

 whole head speckled ; very little reddish brown on the breast ; back dark 

 brown. Length nineteen inches. 



Two or three specimens only of this bird have been 

 obtained in the British Isles. In America it appears to 

 be as abundant as the common species is with us, and to 

 resemble it closely both in plumage and habits. 



