FERRUGINOUS DUCK. 145 



also a winter visitant, but it is much more rare than 

 either, a few specimens only coming annually under 

 the notice of those ornithologists who give up some 

 portion of their time to the observation of what 

 birds occur in the markets, and to sportsmen during 

 the severity of the winter and spring. In the south, 

 specimens are to be procured in the London mar- 

 kets ; and Mr. Yarrell states that these " are gene- 

 rally received from the eastern counties, between the 

 Thames and the Humber." Towards the north of our 

 island it becomes much more scarce, and we only 

 recollect of having once met with the bird in a fresh 

 state in the Edinburgh markets. Of its nidification 

 or manners we know very little ; according to Tem- 

 minck, the nest is made near rivers and in marshes. 

 On the continent of Europe it appears also to be 

 rare, in the southern parts a winter visitant only ; 

 while in the more northern districts it cannot be 

 abundant, being omitted from works devoted to 

 the natural history of portions of that range of 

 country. Out of Europe, we have Africa men- 

 tioned* as included in its range, but have not seen 

 specimens from that country. It has been received 

 from Alpine India and other parts of Asia. On the 

 Indian peninsula, Mr. Jerdon states it to be rare, 

 and seen generally in pairs. In North America it 

 does not occur ; and from its absence from thence, 

 and its apparent scarcity in Northern Europe, we 

 may probably look for its breeding stations and 

 summer retreats in the colder and north-eastern por- 

 tions of the Asiatic continent. 



K 



