Birds of Britain 



THE AMERICAN WIGEON 



Mareca americana (J. F. Gmelin) 



One or two examples of this species have occurred in 

 this country at long intervals. It may be distinguished 

 from our Wigeon 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 19 in.; wing 10' 2 5 in. 



THE RED-CRESTED POCHARD 



Netta rufina (Pallas) 



The Eed- crested Pochard, whose nesting home is in 

 South-Eastern Europe, though it also nests sparingly in the 

 Rhone delta and Spain, is only a rare straggler to these 

 islands, and most of the examples have been obtained in 

 Norfolk, where as recently as last year, 1906, a flock of eight 

 appeared, and needless to say were soon all shot. 



It is a much larger bird than the Common Pochard, and 

 may be distinguished by its rufous crest, red bill, and legs, 

 though differing also in many other particulars. There are 

 sixteen tail feathers instead of fourteen as in the genus 

 Fuligula. Length 22 in.; wing 10 '5 in. 



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