BIRDS MET WITH BY THE WILDFOWLER 305 
RUDDY SHELDRAKE 
Tadorna casarca (Linneus) 
This bird is a rare irregular autumn and winter migrant to 
the British Isles. In summer it inhabits the southern Palz- 
arctic region. Many of the examples of this species shot 
with us have been proved to be birds escaped from captivity. 
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. The adult female is similar to the male, but 
the neck ring is absent. The young in first plumage are some- 
what similar to the adult females, but are lighter in colour, 
and the wing-coverts, scapulars, and innermost secondaries 
are tinged with brown. Length about 25 in. 
AMERICAN WIDGEON 
Anas americana (Gmelin) 
The American Widgeon is a very rare autumn migrant to 
the British Isles, only one or two examples of this species 
having occurred in this country at long intervals. It inhabits 
Western Arctic America, migrating southward in winter to 
Central America and the West Indies. It may be distin- 
guished from our Widgeon by the forehead and crown being 
dull white, the cheeks and neck whitish, speckled with brown, 
and a green stripe passing backwards from the eye. The 
female has the head and neck yellowish white, speckled with 
black. Length about 22 in. ; wing 10°25 in. 
WIDGEON 
Anas penelope (Linnaeus) 
The Widgeon is best known as a winter visitor to these 
islands, large numbers arriving in autumn, and frequenting 
U 
