THE WIGEON, ETC. 203 



islands off the south-west coast, and in Norwegian 

 Lapland ; called here the krik-and ; it nests on marshy 

 ground, and lays from eight to twelve very pale buff 

 eggs, marked with almost imperceptible brown spots. 

 Nilsson says of this species, " Kottet dr Idckcrt/ 3 or, 

 "its flesh is dainty/' 



The wigeon (A. Penelope) is very common during 

 the summer months in Nordland and Finmark, where 

 it breeds ; it is seen in flocks in the vicinity of Chris- 

 tiania in autumn as well as at the mouth of the 

 Glommen, the largest river in Norway. The Norwe- 

 gian name is pip-and. The favourite breeding-grounds 

 are by the sides of the northern lakes ; the nest is 

 lined with the down from the bird's breast, and con- 

 tains from six to eight creamy-white eggs. Nilsson 

 says that the female has her ducklings with her as 

 early as Midsummer. 



The American wigeon (A. Americana). A bird of 

 very rare occurrence in this country. 



Steller's western duck (A. Stelleri) is occasionally 

 seen in East Finmark ; breeds in Kamskatka ; is said 

 to arrive on the Yaranger-fjord in East Finmark in 

 May, but does not make its appearance there every 

 year. The following is the description of a male and 

 female shot in East Finmark : The male bird has the 

 head and neck grayish-white, with a small patch of 

 dark green on the forehead and occiput ; throat and 

 lower part of the neck, running on to the back, me- 

 tallic blue-black ; a white ring round the neck ; breast, 

 belly, and flanks, pale red-brown ; back, lower part 

 of wing, and tail, blue-black ; shoulder of wing, 

 white ; quills, bluish-brown ; a curl of pure white 

 feathers on the frontal part of the wing ; vent and 



