A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 137 



and exceptionally winter. Especially rare Wales, west and north 

 England, Scotland (not occurred O. Hebrides), and Ireland. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Palaearctic region generally, breeding 

 chiefly in subarctic portions, migrating in winter as far south as 

 northern and tropical Africa, and south Asia as far as Philippines 

 and Moluccas. 



fXoTE. — Wanderers from captivity of the Xorth American Summer-Duck, 

 Aix sponsa (L.), are sometimes shot (Saunders, p. 432).] 



ANAS PENELOPE 



293. Anas penelope L.— THE WIGEON. 



Anas pexelope Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 69 (1758 — Europe. 



Restricted typical locaHty : Sweden). 



Mareca penelope (Linnaeus), Yarrell, iv, p. 397 ; Saunders, p. 437. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident and winter-visitor. Breeds 

 regularly Sutherland, Caithness, Ross, Cromarty, and Perth ; and 

 in Argyll, borders of Roxburgh and Selkirk, and Forth area at all 

 events in recent years ; has nested Shetlands, Orkneys, Kirkcud- 

 bright., Coll, Kincardine : also (possiblv wild birds) Yorks. (1897 and 

 1901), Cumberland (1903 and 1908), and Merioneth (1898). Some 

 evidence, but no proof, of breeding occasionally other parts. 

 Common winter-visitor on all coasts and occasionally inland 

 waters. In Shetlands, chiefl}" autumn and spring migrant. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Palaearctic region generally, breeding in 

 colder parts, wintering in more southern latitudes as far as north 

 Africa, Persia, India, Burmah, Sunda Islands, and China ; 

 accidental visitor to North America. 



ANAS AMERICANA 



294. Anas americana Gm.— THE AMERICAN WIGEON. 



Anas americana Gmelin, Syst. Xat., i, ii, p. 526 (1789 — X. America). 

 Mareca americana (Gmelin), Yarrell, iv, p. 403 ; Saunders, p. 439. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Very rare vagrant. Male identified, 

 and female probably, at London Market, winter 1837-8. Young 

 male found at Leeds game -stall, Feb., 1895 (Saunders. y>. 439). 

 Adult male shot Benbecula (0. Hebrides), Jan. 3, 1907 {Bull. B.O.C., 

 XIX, p. 57 ; cf. Brit. B., 11, -p. 56). Adult male seen Anglesey, 

 June, 1910, may have been an escape from captivity [Brit. B., iv, 

 pp. 87, 256). Other occurrences (unauthenticated) recorded. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — North America, in winter south to 

 Guatemala, Costa Rica, West Indies, and Hawaiian Islands, 



