A HAND-LIST OF BRITISH BIRDS. 137 



and exceptionally winter. Especially rare Wales, west and north 

 England, Scotland (not occurred O. Hebrides), and Ireland. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Paleearctic region generally, breeding 

 chiefly in subarctic portions, migrating in winter as far south as 

 northern and tropical Africa, and south Asia as far as Philippines 

 and Moluccas. 



[NOTE. Wanderers from captivity of the NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER-DUCK, 



Aix sponsa (L.), are sometimes shot (Saunders, p. 432).] 



ANAS PENELOPE 



293. Anas penelope L. THE WIGEON. 



AXAS PENELOPE Linnaeus, Syst. Nat., ed. x, i, p. 69 (1758 Europe. 



Restricted typical locality : Sweden). 



Mareca penelope (Linnaeus), Yarrell, iv, p. 397 ; Saunders, p. 437. 



DISTRIBUTION. British Isles. Resident and winter- visit or. Breeds 

 regularly Sutherland, Caithness, Ross, Cromarty, and Perth ; and 

 in Argyll, borders of Roxburgh and Selkirk, and Forth area at all 

 events in recent years ; has nested Shetlands, Orkneys, Kirkcud- 

 bright., Coll, Kincardine; also (possibly wild birds) Yorks. (1897 and 

 1901), Cumberland (1903 and 1908), and Merioneth (1898). Some 

 evidence, but no proof, of breeding occasionally other parts. 

 Common winter-visitor on all coasts and occasionally inland 

 waters. In Shetlands, chiefly autumn and spring migrant. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. Palsearctic region generally, breeding in 

 colder parts, wintering in more southern latitudes as far as north 

 Africa, Persia, India, Burmah, Sunda Islands, and China ; 

 accidental visitor to North America. 



ANAS AMERICANA 



294. Anas americana Gm. THE AMERICAN WIGEON. 



ANAS AMERICANA Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, ii, p. 526 (1789 N". America). 

 Mareca americana (Gmelin), Yarrell, iv, p. 403 ; Saunders, p. 439. 



DISTRIBUTION. Great Britain. Very rare vagrant. Male identified, 

 and female probably, at London Market, winter 1837-8. Young 

 male found at Leeds game-stall, Feb., 1895 (Saunders, p. 439). 

 Adult male shot Benbecula (0. Hebrides), Jan. 3, 1907 (Bull. B.O.C., 

 xix, p. 57 ; cf. Brit. B., n, p. 56). Adult male seen Anglesey, 

 June, 1910, may have been an escape from captivity (Brit. B., iv, 

 pp. 87, 256). Other occurrences (unauthenticated) recorded. 



DISTRIBUTION. Abroad. North America, in winter south to 

 Guatemala, Costa Rica, West Indies, and Hawaiian Islands, 



