EXPEDITION TO THE NORTH OF ICELAND. 411 



However, I got five downy young, which I vakie very highly ; they 

 very closely resemble the young of the Mallard, but may be known by 

 their shorter and narrower bill — shorter than the head — and the 

 presence of lamellae. The female is a very noisy bird at times, when 

 she loses her young, for instance. A sldn was brought to me, which I 

 regret I did not secure, as it was in very dark plumage, and was un- 

 doubtedly the male in the eclipse stage. 



Pintail, Bafila acuta. (Grafdnd.) — I met with it frequently, but 

 it is very wild and wary. I got adult female and downy young. 



Teal, Querquediila crecca. (Urt.) — Plentiful in several districts. I 

 procured adult female, downy young, eggs, and down. 



Teal, sp. ?. — I saw a Teal with a very dark back, leading four 

 very dark young towards the water. I mistook her for the Common 

 Teal, and, having procured the above, did not intend to interfere with 

 her. In her solicitude for her young she feigned lameness, and in so 

 doing expanded her wings, when I saw one broad white band across, 

 above a green speculum. I made repeated efforts to secure her, but 

 failed. What species could this have been ? 



WiGEON, Mareca j^enelope. (Eaudhofda-ond.) — Common in many 

 districts, especially the interior. I procured adult females, a good 

 series of downy young, eggs, and down. 



American Wigeon, M. americana. — This is probably the most im- 

 portant discovery I made. To be the first to find this splendid duck 

 breeding in Europe gives me the greatest satisfaction. I cannot refrain 

 from expressing surprise that all the ornithologists who have preceded 

 and followed me in Iceland should have failed to discover this striking 

 bird. The very first duck I shot when I finally landed in Iceland was a 

 female Mareca americana, and the very first downy young I secured 

 were three — full clutch — of this species. Subsequently I got the adult 

 male, and saw another adult male in eclipse dress ; female and about 

 five downy young, which I could not secure ; and still another adult 

 female. I met with the bird in three different districts, in two of 

 which it was breeding. The Icelanders knew the male well enough, 

 although as a rare visitor, but regarded it as being only a variety 

 of the Common Wigeon. The female they could not distinguish 

 at all. 



This (the female) is a most distinct looking bird in the field, and could 

 not be mistaken, when its characters are understood, by anyone whose 

 eyes were properly accustomed to the appearance of the female Mareca 

 penelope. It is much stouter in build ; indeed, the difference appears 

 to be as great as that between a person of ten stone and another of 

 fourteen stone. The instant I saw my first bird I was so struck by 



