EUROPEAN WIDGEON. 117 



MARECA PENELOPE. 



Geographical Distribution. Northern portions of Eastern 

 Hemisphere, and of frequent occurrence in the United States as 

 far south as California on the Pacific, and the coasts of North 

 Carolina on the Atlantic Ocean. Breeds pretty much through- 

 out the northern part of the Eastern Hemisphere. 



Adult Male. Forehead and crown varying among individuals 

 from white to ochraceous. Remainder of head and sides of 

 neck, rufous. Cluster of small green spots behind the eye, 

 and some on the occiput. Chin, throat, and fore part of neck, 

 black. Breast, vinaceous. Back and sides, finely undulated 

 with black and white. Long tertials, gray on inner webs, black, 

 edged with white, on the outer. Wing coverts, white. Speculum, 

 metallic green. Primaries, ftfscous. Lower back, slate gray, 

 with a white spot on each side of base of upper tail coverts. 

 Inner upper tail coverts, gray, with white edges ; outer ones, 

 black, edged with white on inner webs. Under parts, white. 

 Under tail coverts, black. Tail, pointed, fuscous, becoming 

 almost black at tips. Bill, bluish black; nail, black. Legs, dark 

 brown; feet, bluish gray; webs, dusky. Total length, 18 inches; 

 wing, 10; culmen, ly 4 ^; tarsus, i-J-. 



Adult Female. Head and neck, rusty, varying in depth 

 among individuals, speckled with black; occasionally, the top of 

 the head being nearly all black. Upper parts, dusky brown, 

 feathers margined with grayish. Wings, grayish brown. Specu- 

 lum, dull black; outer web of tertials edged with white, the outer- 

 most one with outer web all white. Primaries, fuscous on outer 

 webs, light buff on inner, metallic green at tips. Upper tail 

 coverts, rufous brown. Tail, purplish brown, feathers edged 

 with white. Breast and flanks, light rufous; the former spotted, 

 the latter barred with dark brown. Rest of under parts, white, 

 the under tail coverts barred with blackish brown. Iris, brown. 

 Bill, bluish black. Legs and feet, dark brown. Total length, 18 

 inches; wing, io|; culmen, if; tarsus, \\. 



