BIRDS OF ICELAND 57 



colour. Any record of the nest in Iceland will require 

 to be authenticated by the skin of the parent, shot 

 off them. 



Preyer states that the specimen shot on Myvatn 

 had ten to twelve ducklings with it (Eeise, p. 408), 

 and adds that the nest was taken on the EyjafjorSr on 

 July 10, 1860, by a certain Arni 'Yngjaldsson, but as 

 he describes the eggs as ' griinlich schmuzig weisser ' 

 in colour, this rather points to a nest of the Teal, not 

 of the Garganey. 



Mareca penelope (Linn.). Wigeon. 



Native names: 'EauShofSi gra-ond' (Redheaded grey 

 duck), ' Urtond ' (partim), ' RauSdufu-ond ' (' Red 

 dove duck,' a rather stupid name, which I have 

 not heard). 



A summer visitor, becoming commoner towards the 

 north. It is considered somewhat rare in the south, 

 but we saw a good many on J)ingvallavatn early in 

 June 1900, and took a nest there. There is a good 

 deal of confusion amongst Icelanders respecting the 

 females of the various ducks, and they nearly all get 

 the name of ' gra-ond ' (grey duck) in consequence. No 

 doubt the female ducks are difficult to distinguish in 

 the case of any one who never has had the chance to 

 see good figures, or named specimens, and does not 

 use a field-glass. The wonder rather to my mind is 

 that the average Icelander, considering his oppor- 



