142 
British Birds. 
The male of this 
species differs from 
that of the Common 
Wigeon in having 
the head whitish, 
thickly speckled 
with black, and with 
a shade of green 
reaching from the 
eye to the hinder 
nape. The female differs from the female of M. penelope in having the head and 
neck much whiter. The species breeds in Arctic America, and wanders south in 
winter. It has been found on one occasion with English-killed Wigeon in a 
London market. In habits and the construction of its nest it does not differ from 
our own Wigeon, and the eggs are creamy-buff, and measure a trifle over two 
inches. 
The Wigeon. 
The American Wigeon. 
Siberia and Kamtchatka, and it also nests in 
many localities in Central Europe. Although 
the species is found in flocks on inland lakes 
in winter, it also frequents the sea-coasts in 
large numbers. The nest is made in the 
hollow of the ground near water, and is 
generally well concealed in the long sedge ; 
it is lined with grass and down from the 
body of the bird. The eggs are from seven 
to twelve in number, and are of a buffy-white 
or cream-colour. The length is from two to 
two - and - a - quarter 
inches. 
THE AMERICAN 
WIGEON. 
(. Mareca amcricana.) 
The small size of the Teal generally serves to distinguish 
the species, its length being only a trifle over a foot. The 
sexes are different in colour, the male being a very handsome 
little bird with a chestnut head and throat and green side-face, 
separated from the chestnut by a line of white. The Teal breeds throughout 
England, Scotland and Ireland, but more commonly in the north ; it visits every 
part of Great Britain in the winter. It breeds throughout Europe in the summer, 
but is more common in the north, and extends across Central and Northern Asia to 
THE 
COMMON TEAL. 
(Nettion crecca.) 
