J30 COMMON WIDGEON. 



As among many of the other ducks we appear 

 also to have a periodical change, and in a specimen 

 before us, procured in Scotland, we have the white 

 part of the breast and the scapulars intermixed with 

 feathers of a yellowish brown, with dark lunate 

 bars. In a third, procured in Edinburgh market, we 

 have the head and neck intermixed with brownish 

 black and yellowish brown, none of the white or 

 beautiful bluish grey appearing, and only a few 

 feathers of chestnut-brown coining out upon the 

 flanks ; the plumage generally brown, with a mix- 

 ture of yellowish brown. 



MARECA, Steph. Generic characters. Bill short, 

 of equal breadth throughout; laminse nearly 

 concealed ; nostrils lateral, basal ; wings acute ; 

 feet small, hallux with a narrow membrane. 



Types. M. penelope, Americana, c. Europe, 

 Asia, Africa, America. 



e. Feed on grasses or vegetables, somewhat 

 in the manner of the geese. Breed inland. 



THE COMMON WIDGEON. MARECA PENELOPE. 

 Anas penelope, Linn.,Selly, &c. Mareca fistularis, 

 Steph. L. Canard siffleur, Temm. The Widgeon 

 or Whew of British authors. We have placed 

 the widgeon here, or last, among the first sub- 

 family of British ducks, as being a bird of shy 

 character, and though it breeds inland, frequenting 

 the coast more commonly than those which have 



