150 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



CHILOE WIGEON 



Mareca sibilatrix 



Above black, on the neck barred across with white ; feathers of 

 the back and scapularies margined with white ; head above and 

 cheeks pure white ; nape and back of the neck shining greenish 

 purple ; wings brown, lesser wing-coverts white ; secondaries velvety 

 black, white at the base ; beneath white, throat and fore-neck blackish ; 

 upper breast black, with narrow white cross-bands ; flanks stained 

 with rusty rufous; bill and feet black; length 20, wing 10.3 inches. 

 Female similar, but not so bright in colour. 



THE Chiloe Wigeon, as this duck has been usually 

 called since its introduction and acclimatisation in 

 England as an ornamental water-fowl, is the only 

 species of the genus found in South America, and is 

 most abundant on the pampas, where it is called 

 by the country people Pato picaso or Pato overo 

 (Piebald Duck) or Chirivi from its cry* It is a very 

 handsome bird ; the upper plumage variegated with 

 black, white, and grey ; forehead, speculum, and 

 under surface white ; head and neck dark glossy 

 green. It is resident, and is usually seen in small 

 flocks of from a dosen to twenty birds, but sometimes 

 as many as one or two hundred congregate together* 

 They are wary and loquacious, strong on the wing, 

 and frequently engage in a peculiar kind of aerial 

 pastime. A small flock will rise to a vast height, 

 often until they seem mere specks in the sky, or 

 disappear from sight altogether ; and at that great 

 altitude they continue hovering or flying, sometimes 

 keeping very nearly in the same place for an hour 



