BRITISH BIRDS. 



305 



THE WIGEON. 



WHEWER, WHIM, OR PANDLED WHEW. 



(Anas Penelope, Linn. Canard siffleur, Temm.) 



THIS bird weighs generally about twenty-three 

 ounces, and measures nearly twenty inches in 

 length, and two feet three in breadth. The bill is 

 an inch and a half long, narrow, and serrated on 

 the inner edges; the upper mandible is of a dark 

 lead colour, tipped with black. The crown of the 

 head, which is very high and narrow, is of a cream 

 colour, with a small spot of the same under each 

 eye : the rest of the head, the neck, and the breast, 

 are bright rufous chesnut, obscurely freckled on the 

 head with black spots, and darkest on the chin and 

 throat, which are tinged with a vinous colour: a 

 band, composed of beautifully waved, or indented 

 narrow ash brown and white lines, separates the 

 breast and neck; the back and scapulars are 

 marked with similar feathers, as are also the sides 

 of the body under the wings, even as low as the 



VOL. II. 2 Q 



