Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/439

Rh However, I got five downy young, which I value very highly; they very closely resemble the young of the Mallard, but may be known by their shorter and narrower bill—shorter than the head—and the presence of lamellæ. The female is a very noisy bird at times, when she loses her young, for instance. A skin was brought to me, which I regret I did not secure, as it was in very dark plumage, and was undoubtedly the male in the eclipse stage.

Dafila acuta. (Grafönd.)—I met with it frequently, but it is very wild and wary. I got adult female and downy young.

Querquedula crecca. (Urt.)—Plentiful in several districts. I procured adult female, downy young, eggs, and down.

sp.?.—I saw a Teal with a very dark back, leading four very dark young towards the water. I mistook her for the Common Teal, and, having procured the above, did not intend to interfere with her. In her solicitude for her young she feigned lameness, and in so doing expanded her wings, when I saw one broad white band across, above a green speculum. I made repeated efforts to secure her, but failed. What species could this have been?

Mareca penelope. (Randhöfda-önd.)—Common in many districts, especially the interior. I procured adult females, a good series of downy young, eggs, and down.

M. americana.—This is probably the most important discovery I made. To be the first to find this splendid duck breeding in Europe gives me the greatest satisfaction. I cannot refrain from expressing surprise that all the ornithologists who have preceded and followed me in Iceland should have failed to discover this striking bird. The very first duck I shot when I finally landed in Iceland was a female Mareca americana, and the very first downy young I secured were three—full clutch—of this species. Subsequently I got the adult male, and saw another adult male in eclipse dress; female and about five downy young, which I could not secure; and still another adult female. I met with the bird in three different districts, in two of which it was breeding. The Icelanders knew the male well enough, although as a rare visitor, but regarded it as being only a variety of the Common Wigeon. The female they could not distinguish at all.

This (the female) is a most distinct looking bird in the field, and could not be mistaken, when its characters are understood, by anyone whose eyes were properly accustomed to the appearance of the female Mareca penelope. It is much stouter in build; indeed, the difference appears to be as great as that between a person of ten stone and another of fourteen stone. The instant I saw my first bird I was so struck by