THE WIGEON AND POCHARDS 281 



THE WIGEON. 



(Mareca penelope!) 



Male. — Bill greyish-blue ; nail black ; iris hazel. 

 Upper part of head reddish- white ; cheeks and upper 

 neck brownish-red, dotted with black ; a lengthened 

 band of the latter on the throat. Fore-part and sides 

 of lower neck are light vinaceous ; upper part and the 

 sides below the wings finely barred with dark grey 

 and white. Wings grey, with a large patch of white ; 

 the speculum green, with a black band before and 

 behind it ; the secondaries white, grey, and black. 

 The upper tail coverts partly black ; tail grey ; breast 

 and belly white ; the feathers under the tail black. 

 Legs and feet light greyish-blue, the membrane being 

 darker. Length, from bill to tail, twenty-one inches. 



Female. — A smaller bird. Bill, iris, and feet are 

 similar to those of the male. Head and upper neck 

 yellowish-red, with black spots. The feathers of the 

 upper parts generally are dusky brown, edged with 

 brownish-red or whitish. The wings are dusky grey ; 

 the speculum greyish, and without gloss. On the 

 lower fore-part and sides of the neck the feathers 

 are faintly barred brown and grey ; breast and belly 

 white ; feathers under tail barred with brown. 



THE POCHARD. 

 {FuUgula ferina.) 



Male. — Bill black at the base and at the end, the 

 rest being of a light greyish-blue ; iris orange. Head 



