THE WIGEON. 
277 
prominent, the tail is rather more acuminate, and the central 
feathers extend somewhat bt'yond the lateral ones. The bill 
is small and gradually tapering towards the tip. The above 
characters are given for the genus by Count Salvadori, and 
to them must be added the style of plumage, which is well 
pronounced ; thus, though many recent writers have placed 
the Gadwalls, Shovelers, and AVigeon in the genus Anas, I 
thoroughly agree with Count Salvadori that they should be 
separated as distinct genera. Three species of Wigeon are 
known, our British bird (Af. pendope), the American Wigeon 
(J/i americand), and AP. sibilatrix from South America. 
I. THE WIGEON. MARECA PENELOPE. 
Anas penelops, Linn. S. N. i. p. 202 (1766). 
Anas penelope. Gin. Syst. Nat. i. p. 527 (1788); Seebohm, Br. 
B. hi. p. 539 (1885). 
Afareca penelope, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 83 (1852) ; Dresser, B. Eur. 
vi. p. 541, pis- 432, 433 (1876); B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 
123 (1S83); Saunders, ed. Yarr. Brit. B. iv. p. 397 
(1885) ; id. Man. p. 42S (1889) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. 
part XV. (1890); Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 227 
(1895)- 
Adult Male. — General colour above grey, with fine vermicula- 
tions of darker grey, the lower back and rump more finely 
vcrmiculated ; the sides of the lower rump white ; central tail- 
coverts grey, with coarser vermiculations and the ends of the 
feathers ivhite, the lateral upper tail-coverts velvety-black ; lesser 
wing-coverts grey, very finely vermiculated ; the median- and 
greater wing-coverts pure white, forming a large patch, the latter 
tipped with velvety-black, forming the upper border to the 
speculum ; bastard-wing, primary-coverts, and quills ashy-grey, 
the inner webs dusky, with a mirror of buff on the inner web 
of the primaries; the secondaries grey internally, metallic- 
green externally, but black at the ends, this forming the wing- 
speculum ; the next inner secondary white externally, forming 
an inner border to the speculum, the next three inner second- 
aries externally velvcty-black, with white shafts, the innermost 
grey with darker vermiculations like the scapulars ; crown of 
bead light cinnamon-buff, paler on the lores ; the hinder 
