394 anatidj:. 



western side. As regards Scotland, Dr. Edward Clarke sent 

 the Author notice from Edinburgh that six specimens were 

 shot in Stirlingshire during the last fortnight of March 

 1841 ; one was shot there in May 1857 ; a few have been 

 obtained on the eastern side ; a very few have been recorded 

 from the south-west ; it has been obtained as a rare spring 

 visitant in the Orkneys ; and, as an uncommon straggler, in 

 Shetland. In Ireland, according to Sir R. Payne-Gallwey, 

 it is the rarest of the tolerably well-known Ducks, and he can 

 give but very few authenticated instances of its occurrence. 



The Garganey is a summer visitant to Scandinavia, nest- 

 ing in considerable numbers in Denmark ; it is also com- 

 mon at that season in Russia as far north as Archangel. 

 It appears to be generally distributed during the breeding- 

 season throughout Europe down to the Black Sea and the 

 Mediterranean ; but in the western portion of the Spanish 

 Peninsula it is very rare, although it is found on the east side, 

 where there are lakes with large reed-beds suited to its habits. 

 From autumn to spring it is not uncommon in Northern 

 Africa, Egypt, and portions of Arabia. Its breeding-range can 

 be traced across the temperate zone of Asia to the Amoor, in 

 summer ; in the cold season it visits China, the Philippines, 

 Java, Borneo, and Celebes ; it is one of the commonest 

 Ducks in Burmah, and has even been said to breed in Moul- 

 mein ; it has also been supposed to nest in some parts of 

 India, to which, however, it is principally an abundant 

 winter visitor, and is known as the Blue-winged Teal. The 

 American Blue-winged Teal, Q. discors, is, as already stated 

 (p. 392), a perfectly distinct species. 



The nest of the Garganey is described by the late Mr. 

 Hoy as placed in low boggy situations, in Holland, and com- 

 posed of rushes and dry grass, lined with the down of the 

 bird. In the * broad ' district in Norfolk, the densest reed- 

 beds are preferred. Laying commences in the latter half of 

 April ; the eggs, usually eight, but sometimes thirteen in 

 number, are of somewhat more creamy-yellow than those of 

 the Common Teal, and measure about 1'9 by 1'3 in. 



The food of this species consists of water-plants, rice and 



