T/te Wigeon.] OF ORKNEY. 143 



/ 



Species 11. The Wigeon. 



Wigeon or Whewer, Wil. Orn. 375. Rail Syn. Av. 146. Anas Penelope, Lin. 



%. 202, Brit. Zool. 472. 



THIS species is found pretty frequent, but whether it con- 

 tinues with us the whole year or not, I am uncertain. The 

 colours of one I saw lately stuffed were as follow : The bill 

 black at the point, the rest of it lead-coloured ; the crown of 

 the head yellowish, the rest of it red, except a fine changeable 

 spot which runs from the eyes ; the throat black ; the breast 

 reddish ; the back and about the wings finely striped and 

 chequered, with narrow waves of black and white ; the belly 

 white ; the wings, with dusky quills, a green speculum, and 

 pretty large white spots on them ; the covert feathers edged 

 with white ; the legs blackish. 



This bird was shot in the loch of Skail, on the mainland, 

 where vast numbers and variety of the duck-kind come in 

 winter and stay till spring. They live on the eels, which are 

 the only fish the loch affords, and the larvae of the ephemera, 

 which is to be found in it in vast quantities, and affords them 

 an excellent repast ; as also no doubt on the pond weeds 

 which abound in this loch. 



