278 
BIEDS OF BRITISH BURMAH. 
Genus MAEECA, Steph. 
640. MAEECA PENELOPE. 
THE WIGEON. 
Anas penelope, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 202 ; Bl. B. Burm. p. 166. Mareca pene- 
lope, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 804 ; Dresser, Bii^ds Eur. vi. p. 541, pi. , David et 
Oust. Ois. Chine, p. 499 ; Hume 8f Marsh. Game Birds, iii. p. 198, pi. ; Hume, 
S. F. viii. p. 115, X. p. 245 (note). 
Description. — Male. Forehead and crown creamy yellow ; rest of tlie 
head and upper part of the neck chestnnt-red ; the cheeks speckled with 
black ; back minutely barred with transverse wavy lines of black and 
white j scapulars black edged with white ; tail blackish grey ; wing-coverts 
pure white ; the greater coverts with velvet-black tips, some of the lesser 
oneSj near the body, pale greyish ; quills cinereous brown ; speculum of 
three bars^ the middle one glossy green^ the upper and under ones black ; 
chin and throat black ; lower part of neck and breast vinaceous red ; abdo- 
men white^ the flanks with black and white wavy lines ; under tail-coverts 
black, glossed green. 
Bull plumbeous blue, black at the tip ; irides red-brown ; legs dusky 
leaden. 
The female has the head and neck fulvous-brown, speckled with dusky ; 
the back and scapulars dusky brown with reddish edges; wing-coverts 
brown, edged with whitish ; the speculum without the dark green gloss ; 
the breast and belly much as in the male ; the flanks rufous-brown with 
ashy tips ; bill and legs more dusky than in the male. 
In some specimens the forehead alone is yellowish, that tint not ex- 
tending over the top of the head. 
In summer the head and neck of the male become spotted with black ; 
the back and scapulars are mottled and barred with brown and dusky ; the 
breast and sides are reddish brown with darker bars and lines ; the under 
tail-coverts white with brown bars. {Jerdon.) 
Length 19 inches, tail 4*3^ wing 10, tarsus 1'5_, bill from gape I "8. 
The female is of much the same size. 
I have reproduced Dr. Jerdon^s description of this Duck ; for it seems to 
me very full and satisfactory. 
The Wigeon is said by Mr. Blyth to have occurred in Arrakan. Col. 
M^Master^ who resided in Pegu for some years^ remarks that it is com- 
moner in Burmah than in India. I have never myself met with it ; nor 
do I know of any sportsman who has shot it in Burmah in recent 
years. 
