198 THE SHELDUCK AND SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS 



the rivers flowing into the Arctic Ocean in North Russia. From here it ranges 

 southward through Denmark, the Low Countries, Germany, the Baltic provinces, 

 Austro-Hungary, Roumania, South Russia, Cyprus, and occasionally breeds in 

 Spain. In North Africa it has been recorded as nesting in Algeria, Tunisia, and 

 Egypt, while it is said also to breed in Nubia and Abyssinia. In Asia it breeds 

 on the rivers Ob, Yenisei, Lena, and Kolyma to 68 on the west and 68 on the 

 east side, and south to N. Persia, Turkestan, and Kashgaria. In North America 

 its breeding limits extend north to Alaska and south to Texas. The winter 

 range of this species is very extensive, and reaches to Senegambia and Somaliland 

 in Africa, and in Asia it visits the countries bordering the Indian Ocean, China, 

 Japan, as well as the Philippines, Australia, and the Gilbert Isles. In America it 

 ranges to Colombia, the West Indies, and Hawaii. As a casual it has occurred 

 in the Bermudas and once near Cape Town. [F. c. B. J.] 



3. Migration. A very locally distributed breeding species, whose numbers 

 are greatly augmented in winter by immigrants from the Continent : such immi- 

 grants have been recorded as early as 5th September (cf. Clarke, Studies in Bird- 

 Migration, 1912, vol. i. p. 160). Our breeding birds are probably mainly resident, 

 becoming more widely distributed in winter ; but in Kent the breeding birds 

 are described as " strictly summer visitors," arriving about mid-March, observed 

 in pairs or parties till mid- April, and then at their nesting haunts till early August, 

 after which they are found on the coast till mid-September ; winter visitant 

 examples are recorded from October or November onwards (cf. Ticehurst, B. of 

 Kent, 1909, p. 352). A few nest in North Wales, but their numbers are increased 

 in whiter, when they are recorded most frequently from the coasts (cf. Forrest, 

 Fauna of N. Wales, 1907, p. 278). In Yorkshire it is best known as an uncommon 

 spring and autumn migrant, although it is also a nesting species, and is occasionally 

 found in winter (cf. Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, p. 451). To Ireland, where it 

 breeds hi every province and is decidedly on the increase, there is also a consider- 

 able augmentation in numbers during the cold season. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The nest is often placed on the ground in a meadow, 

 hi heather on moorlands, or surrounded by rank vegetation, bracken, etc. ; more 

 rarely among dead reeds or in rushes. The distance from the water's edge is very 

 variable, and is sometimes considerable. The nest hollow is filled with dead 

 grasses and other vegetable matter mixed with down, and is the work of the female. 

 The down is much like that of the wigeon, being dark brown with indistinct light 

 centres, but the feathers are distinctive, the larger ones being deep brown, with a 

 heavy blotch near the tip and a band below, while the small ones have a median 



