218 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



be seen that they are very variable in size 

 and shape. 



The plumage of the Wigeon varies 

 considerably according to age and season. 

 The following descriptions are taken from 

 good representative specimens. The fully 

 adult male has the forehead and crown 

 creamy buff. The remainder of the head 

 and the upper neck are chestnut, more 

 or less spotted, rather minutely, with 

 black. The chin and throat are dusky. 

 The mantle, the back, and the scapulars 

 are grey, vermiculated with black. The 

 rump and the upper tail-coverts are more 

 delicately vermiculated, and the middle 

 of the rump is almost plain grey. The 

 longer upper tail -coverts are black with 

 whitish inner margins. The middle pair 

 of tail-feathers is plain brown ; the others 

 ashy, margined with whitish. The upper 

 part of the breast and the sides of 

 the breast are a delicate vinous, tinged 

 with grey, the portion immediately next 

 the chestnut neck vermiculated with 

 black, like the < mantle. The lower part 

 of the breast and the whole abdomen 

 are pure white ; the sides of the body 

 vermiculated with black and grey ; the 

 sides of the rump white ; the under tail- 

 coverts black. The under wing-coverts 



