373 



THE WIGEON 



is in length twenty inches, and weight twentyfour ounces ; bill 

 narrow, of a blueish lead-colour, an inch and a half long, tip 

 black; the top of the head is cream-colour, over the bill almost 

 white ; head and neck light bay ; the plumage of the back, and 

 sides under the wings, undulated with black and white lines ; 

 wing coverts brown, more or less mixed with, and in some birds 

 almost white ; the greater quill feathers dusky; the outermost 

 webs of the middle feathers of a fine green ; the tips black, the 

 last striped with black and white ; the two middle feathers of 

 the tail are longer than the others, black and sharp pointed, the 

 rest ash-coloured ; the belly white ; vent feathers black ; legs 

 dusky lead colour. 



The head of the female is of a rusty brown, spotted with 

 black ; the back is of a deep brown, edged with a paler ; the 

 tips of the lesser quill feathers white ; the belly white. 



This species is common on most parts of the old continent ; 

 it is caught as low as Egypt, from the middle to the end of 

 Ndvember, by nets in the marshes before the departure of the 

 waters ; it is also found at Aleppo, during the winter, in plenty; 

 observed likewise in the Caspian sea and its neighbourhood ; 

 and in most parts of Europe, as far as Sweden. It abounds in 

 England during the winter months, and is caught in the decoys; 

 it is said not to breed in France ; nor is it certain they breed in 

 this country. Both sexes are alike until the following spring 

 after hatching, (this obtains in the pintail, the gadwall, and the 

 shoveller, who are all grey and have no beautiful feathers when 

 youn,) when the males about March gain their full plumage, 

 but lose it again the end of July, and with it in some measure 



