BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 305 



RUDDY SHELDRAKE 

 Tadorna casarca {Linnceus) 



This bird is a rare irregular autumn and winter migrant to 

 the British Isles. In summer it inhabits the southern Palae- 

 arctic region. Many of the examples of this species shot 

 with us have been proved to be birds escaped from captivity. 



The adult male has the upper back, mantle, scapulars, and 

 the whole of the under parts, yellowish chestnut ; ring round 

 lower neck, quills, upper tail-coverts, and tail, black, with a 

 greenish gloss. The adult female is similar to the male, but 

 the neck ring is absent. The young in first plumage are some- 

 what similar to the adult females, but are lighter in colour, 

 and the wing-coverts, scapulars, and innermost secondaries 

 are tinged with brown. Length about 25 in. 



AMERICAN WIDGEON 



Anas americana {Gmeliii) 



The American Widgeon is a very rare autumn migrant to 

 the British Isles, only one or two examples of this species 

 having occurred in this country at long intervals. It inhabits 

 Western Arctic America, migrating southward in winter to 

 Central America and the West Indies. It may be distin- 

 guished from our Widgeon by the forehead and crown being 

 dull white, the cheeks and neck whitish, speckled with brown, 

 and a green stripe passing backwards from the eye. The 

 female has the head and neck yellowish white, speckled with 

 black. Length about 22 in. ; wing io"25in. 



WIDGEON 



Anas penelope {LinncBus) 



The Widgeon is best known as a winter visitor to these 

 islands, large numbers arriving in autumn, and frequenting 



