' ( 87 ) 



The Pochard or great red-headed Wigeon, Ornas fera fufcaJ 



Numb. XCVIII. 



IT S Weight was thirty three Ounces 5 its Length, from the Tip of 

 the Bill to the End of the Claws, was twenty one Inches ; Breadth, 

 when the Wings were extended, was thirty two Inches. It is bigger 

 than the common Wigeon, and for its Bignefs fhorter and thicker^ 

 The lefler covert Feathers of the Wings, and thofe on the middle of the 

 Back, are moft elegantly variegated with dark brown a'l^d cinereous; 

 waved Lines: the Rump and Feathers under the Tail are black, fo that 

 the Tail is encompaffed with a Ring of black, the lower part of the 

 Neck is likewife black: the Head and almoft the whole Neck, are of a 

 deep fulvous or red Colour ; the middle part of the Breaft, and lower part 

 of the Belly, are of the fame Colour with the Back, and varied with the 

 like undulated Lines, but both the Colours paler; towards the Vent it 

 is by degrees darker coloured ; the Tail is very fhort, not exceeding twa 

 Inches, made up of twelve Feathers, of a dark grey ; the outmoft the 

 fhorteft, the reft gradually longer to the middlemoft ; yet the Excefs is 

 not conjfiderable, fo that notwithftanding it is not to be reckoned among^ 

 thofe that have fharp Tails. The Quill -Feathers of the Wings are about 

 twenty five all of one Colour, viz. a dark cinereous or Afli-colour j the 

 interiour or baftard Wing, and leffcr covert Feathers of the under iide of 

 the Wings are white: the Bill is bigger and broader than in xhtWigeony 

 the Feathers divide the middle of the upper Mandible, coming down 

 from the Forehead in Form of a Peak or acute Angle; the upper 

 Mandible is of a lead Colour, but its Tip black, the nether is wholly- 

 black, the Irides of the Eyes are yellow, the Feet lead-coloured, the 

 Membranes conneding the Toes blackifh, the inmoft Toe the leaftj 

 having a membranous Border annexed to its outfide, the back Toe hath- 

 an Appendant Membrane or Fin. 



The charaderiftick Note of this Bird is one uniform Colour of its 

 Wing, without any Feathers of different Colours in the Middle of the 

 Wings, as is ufual in moft Birds of this Kind. 



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