400 ANATID^E. 



On the authority of the Rev. G. Eobinson, and of Lord 

 Caledon, he states that the Wigeon nests at Caledon, co. 

 Tj-rone ; also at Castle Dillon, co. Armagh, and at Portmore 

 Lough. 



The Wigeon is a summer visitor to the Fneroes and Iceland ; 

 and has been known to straggle to Greenland. It breeds in 

 great numbers in Scandinavia, Finland, and Northern Eussia : 

 in the latter as far south as Ekaterinburg; a few may, perhaps, 

 nest in Denmark, Holland, and Northern Germany ; and in 

 autumn, winter, and spring this bird is generally distributed 

 over Europe and the basin of the Mediterranean, its migra- 

 tions extending to Abyssinia. Eastward it is found right 

 across Asia, breeding from the Arctic Circle southwai-ds to 

 Mongolia; ranging in winter to Japan, China, Borneo, many 

 parts of India, and the Persian Gulf. Dr. 0. Finsch 

 obtained a specimen at Jaluit, one of the Marshall Islands, 

 Polynesia, on the 26th of October, 1883. From Siberia we 

 trace it across Bering Sea to the Prybilov Islands, the 

 Aleutian Islands (where it is said to breed) and Alaska ; 

 and Dr. Cooper states that it is not unfrequently to be seen 

 in the Californian markets. On the eastern side of America 

 it has been obtained on a good many occasions, and it 

 appears to visit the coasts of Virginia and the Carolinas 

 almost every winter. 



The nest, placed in a clump of rushes or in a tuft of 

 heather, is warmly lined with the down of the parent bird, 

 and contains from seven to ten oval creamy-whitg eggs ; 

 average measurements 2' 3 by 1'5 in. The note r^l the 

 Wigeon is a shrill whistle, and in some parts of England it 

 is in consequence called the Whew Duck and Whewer ; its 

 name in France, Canard sijfleiir, has reference to the same 

 circumstance. In some books on cookery and in bills of 

 fare, especially in Norfolk, Wigeon are called ' Easterlings ' ; 

 and all over Lapland they are called by a name signifying 

 ' Grass Ducks.' Although not in the habit of diving for food, 

 the Wigeon can dive very well when wounded and pursued, 

 turning rapidly under water. 



Wigeon do not breed very freely in confinement, and 



