BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



235 



THE Ruddy Sheldrake (Tadorna casarca, Linnaeus) is a 

 rare irregular autumn and winter migrant to the British 

 Isles, and in summer inhabits the Southern Palearctic 

 Region. 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 ; forehead, white ; 

 head, rufous-buff; speculum, bright metallic-green; irides, 

 dark hazel ; bill, legs, and feet, black. Length, about 

 twenty-five inches. The adult female is similar to male, 

 but the neck ring is absent. The young in first plumage 

 are somewhat similar to the adult females, but are lighter 

 in colour, and the wing-coverts, scapulars, and innermost 

 secondaries are tinged with brown. 



Hmertcan Wi^eon* 



THE American Wigeon (Anas Americana, Gmelin) is a 

 very rare irregular autumn migrant to the British Islands. 



