J16 GARGANY DUCK. 



there can be no doubt that the great body touch our 

 islands in their spring passage, a few stragglers only 

 remaining to breed, and these instances seem chiefly 

 to be recorded from the county of Norfolk. In the 

 north of England we have Mr. Selby's authority for 

 their non-occurrence, while in Scotland the species 

 has never come under our own observation, either 

 at large or in a fresh state, though Mr. Yarrell 

 states, on the authority of Dr. Edward Clark, that 

 six specimens were shot in Stirlingshire in March 

 1841 . We have little doubt that the southern half 

 of England is the boundary of its northern range, 

 except in accidental instances. In Ireland it has 

 been sparingly obtained. Over the greater part of 

 Europe it appears either to be a visitant in spring, 

 or towards the south in some cases remaining to 

 breed, and it reaches as far north as Sweden,* 

 but the winter retreat of the bird seems scarcely 

 to be ascertained. The Zoological Society have 

 received specimens from the vicinity of Tunis, t 

 It is included among the birds of the Deccan 

 by Colonel Sykes, and by Mr. Jerdon is said to 

 be common on the Indian peninsula through the 

 cold weather, being one of the first to arrive in the 

 country. 



On the crown there is a broad line of brownish 

 black, gradually narrowing on the hind head and 

 losing itself in a point on the back of the neck ; on 

 the forehead this is shaded into light reddish brown, 

 which is the prevailing ground-colour of the cheeks 

 * Nilsson. f Yarrell. 



