406 



RED-HEADED WIGEON. 



his book knowledge of Turner's oak leaves, with his personal observa- 

 tion of moss and hair. l * 



It is a constant inhabitant of the greater part of the European conti- 

 nent. About Bornholm, it is called Tomni-Liden ; in Norway, Peter 

 Ronsmad ; in Germany, Thomas Gierdet ; with us, Redbreast and 

 Ruddock. 



RED-BREASTED GOOSANDER.— A name for the Merganser. 

 RED-BREASTED GOOSE (Anser ruficollis, Pallas.) 



* Anas ruficollis, Gmel. Syst. 2. p. 511.— Lath. Ind. Orn. 2. p. 841. 23.— Temm. 

 Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 826. — Anas torquata, Gmel. Reise, 2. 184 — Red-breasted 

 Goose, Arct. Zool. 2. p. 571. C. — Lath. Syn. 6. p. 455. 17. — Lewins Br. Birds, 

 7. t. 241.— Mont. Orn. Diet.— Flem. Br. Anim. p. 128. 



This species is less than the common goose ; weight about three 

 pounds ; length twenty-one inches ; bill brown ; nail black ; irides 

 yellow -brown ; the fore part of the head and crown black, passing 

 backwards in a narrow stripe to the back ; forehead and cheeks 

 sprinkled with white ; between the bill and eye an oval white spot, 

 above which is a black line ; chin and throat black ; behind the eye is 

 white, passing down the neck on each side ; the middle of this white is 

 rufous ; the rest of the neck deep rufous ; on the breast is a band of 

 black, and another of white ; belly white ; sides striped with black ; 

 back and wings black ; greater wing coverts tipped with grey ; upper 

 and under tail coverts white ; legs dusky black. 



It may be readily distinguished from its kindred by its bill being 

 brown, with a black nail, which is also the colour of the feet. The 

 crown, throat, belly, and tail are black ; the vent, rump, and tail feathers 

 white ; the front of the neck and breast red. It has been found two or 

 three times in Britain ; one near London, in 1766, another in York- 

 shire, and a third at Berwick-on-Tweed, in May, 1818. 



This beautiful species is said to breed in the northern parts of 

 Russia, whence they migrate southward in the autumn, and return in 

 the spring. They frequent the Caspian Sea, and are said to winter in 

 Persia. The nest is built upon the banks of the frozen ocean, and the 

 mouth of the rivers Ob and Lena, in the northern parts of Asia. 



RED DUCK.— A name for the Golden-Eye. 



RED GAME, or RED GROUS.— Names for the Moor Fowl. 



RED GODWIT.— A name for the Godwit, and the Yaredhip. 



RED-HEADED LINNET.— A name for the Linnet and the 

 Redpole. 



RED-HEADED WIGEON.— A name for the Pochard. 



1 Architecture of Birds. Chap, on Ground-Builders, p. 82. 



