1890.] 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



189 



when put up, of rising to a great height in the air so as to be out of 

 gunshot when they come over the expectant sportsman. Moreover 

 their flight is exceedingly swift and when flying high, even though not 

 out of shot, they often get off scot free. This is the first species one 

 learns to distinguish on the wing among a large flight of ducks, its long 

 brown neck and long pointed tail making it very conspicuous. It is 

 most excellent eating. 



THE WIGEON. 



MARECA PENNELOPE, LINN^US. 



This bird, like the Mallard, though one of the commonest ducks in 

 England during the winter months, is by no means common in India. 

 It is, however, in the cold weather occasionally met with in every part 

 of the country. I only saw two, or possibly three of this species killed. 

 The first was killed on the big tank near Sabli Road, the second I 

 killed out of a small party of four or five on a large tank at Sarkor 

 four or five miles north of the Null, and I fancy I also killed one about 

 a couple of miles from Sarkor on the Bamani River, but of that I have 

 no record. The Wigeon is a swift flyer and may be recognised from 

 other ducks, when high up in the air by its peculiar shrill whistling 

 cry. It is good eating, but does not quite rank in the first-class for 

 the table. 



" The American Wigeon," I quote from Dr. Jerdon, " is very 

 " closely allied and was formerly considered identical. M. castanea, 

 " Eyton, and M. gibberifrons, Miiller, are eastern Ducks considered 

 " to belong to this genus, and there are others from Africa and 

 " America." 



REPORTS OF SOCIETIES. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF LONDON. 



September yd, 1890.— Henry T. Stainton, Esq., F.R.S., in the chair. 



Mr. C. Fenn exhibited and remarked on specimens of Eupithecia satyrata, Eudorca 

 ambigtialis, and Tortrix viburnana from the neighbourhood of Darlington. 



Mr. H. Goss exhibited, on behalf of Mr. Martin Stanger Higgs, a remarkable 

 variety of M elites a aitrinia (artemis), taken a few years ago, in Gloucestershire, by 

 Mr. Joseph Merrin. 



The Rev, Dr. Walker communicated some observations on the Entomology of 



