CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. l8l 



This species is sometimes called the Laughing 

 Goose. In regard to its habitat abroad, Howard 

 Saunders says : "It is not known to nest in Norway 

 or Sweden, yet in winter it visits their coasts, as 

 well as those of Denmark and Western Europe as 

 far as the Mediterranean. It is also found inland, 

 and from its breeding-places in Arctic Russia it 

 migrates down the Volga and other great river- 

 valleys to Egypt, Syria, and Nubia. It is supposed 

 to have had a share in the origin of our tame stock, 

 for it was domesticated by the ancient Egyptians, as 

 shown by its admirable portraiture in paintings from 

 a slab from Meydoun and on others in the temple of 

 Amada in Nubia." 



CASE 35. 



THE WIGEON. 



Order, Anseres. Fa7nily, A7iaticice. 



Immense flocks of this species arrive on our 

 shores from the middle of September onwards, and 

 distribute themselves over the British Islands in 

 seaways and tidal waters, around the western islands 

 of Scotland — particularly in certain parts of the 

 Hebrides, where they are literally in thousands ; the 

 same also may be said of some parts of the south- 

 west coast of Ireland. 



The bulk of these birds depart again in the latter 

 end of March, but still a few remain to breed. The 



