314 BULLETIN 142 ; UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



and Ufa; across northern Asia to Kamchatka, south to latitude 55° 

 in the west and 54° in the east. 



Winter range. — The Mediterranean countries and Africa, south to 

 Cape Province and Natal; in Asia, India, Ceylon, Burma, Siam, 

 China, Hainan, Formosa, and Japan; Sunda Islands, Moluccas, 

 Borneo, Java, Timor, Sumatra, Norfolk Island, Australia, and New 

 Zealand. 



Spring migration. — From its winter quarters in South Africa it is 

 recorded from Morocco (Mogador) in May and near Gibraltar in 

 March, April, and May (late date May 22) ; passes Corsica in some 

 numbers (May 8), arrives in Greece, where some also winter, at the 

 end of March and in April, leaving in May (late date May 8) ; 

 leaves Egypt in March; passes Cyprus in April and leaves the 

 marshes of lower Iraq at the end of April, and also leaves India 

 about the same time. In France it arrives late in April or early May, 

 and in Spain has been observed as late as the third week of May, 

 even in the south. First arrivals reach South Russia in March and 

 pass through north Germany about mid-April, arriving on the British 

 coasts from the middle of April onward and in south Sweden in the 

 latter part of May. 



Fall migration. — While the spring migration is usually noticed 

 only in small numbers, in pairs or even singly, the fall migration is 

 better marked. From mid-July to late in November they may be 

 met with on the British coasts, but most birds leave in September- 

 October, passing through Holland in August and September-Octo- 

 ber; in North France (early date mid-July), and reaching Spain in 

 September, crossing over the Straits of Gibraltar in October, and 

 Malta in September (occasionally in June, July, and August, prob- 

 ably nonbreeders). From Bulgaria it is reported in September 

 (early date August 20) ; Montenegro, September (early date July 

 19); Cyprus, October 3; and Greece, arrives in September. Some 

 birds reach the marshes of Iraq at the end of July, but mostly in 

 August, and in India from the middle to the end of September, 

 Pegu in October. Along the west coast of Africa they are noted 

 from Mogador (September), Gambia (September), Gold Coast (Sep- 

 tember 13), Cape Province and Natal (September-October). 



Casual records. — Has occurred in Madeira, the Canaries, Azores, 

 Mauritius (once). Cape Verde Islands, Florida (Audubon), Nor- 

 folk Island, Chile, and Buenos Ayres. 



Egg dates. — Some 39 dates from Scotland all fall in May. The 

 earliest date for a full clutch is May 9. From May 9 to 16 (22 dates), 

 17 to 23 (11 dates), 23 to 28 (5 dates). 



