172 ANATIDJJ. 



in the Shetland and Orkney Islands and in many parts of 

 Scotland; also occasionally in the north of England and 

 Wales. There is no actual proof of its having bred in 

 Ireland. It is a very common Winter Visitor to all our 

 coasts and the adjacent inland waters. 



General Distribution. The Wigeon is widely distributed 

 over Europe and Asia, breeding in the more northern parts 

 of its range up to about 70 N. latitude : it also nests in 

 Iceland, the Faeroes, Kolguev, and Vaigach Island. In 

 winter it visits the w hole of southern Europe and north 

 Africa, as far south as Abyssinia ; also southern Asia to 

 the Sunda Islands ; while some cross Bering sea to the 

 Aleutian Islands, Alaska, and visit the coast of California. 

 Stragglers reach Greenland, the Atlantic coasts of North 

 America, the Azores, and Madeira, and have been recorded 

 from the Marshall Islands. 



Mareca americana. AMERICAN WIGEON. 



Anas americana Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. pt, 2, 1789, p. 526: 

 Louisiana. 



Mareca americana (Gmel.) ; B. O. U. List, 1st ed. 1883, p. 124; 

 Salvador!, Cat. Birds B. M. xxvii. 1895, p. 233 ; Saunders, 

 Manual, 2nd ed. 1899, p. 439. 

 Americana = American. 



Distribution in the British Islands. A Rare Visitor ; there 

 are about three authentic records of its occurrence : In 

 the London market, winter 1837-38 ; in a Leeds game-stall, 

 Feb. 1895 ; a male, Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Jan. 1907. 

 Others have been recorded, some being possibly birds which 

 have escaped from captivity. 



General Distribution. The American Wigeon breeds in 

 North America from Alaska eastwards to Hudson Bay and 

 southwards to Utah, Colorado, and Wisconsin. In winter it 

 visits Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. It has 

 been obtained in Bering Island and the Hawaiian Islands ; 

 also in the Azores and in France. Its reported breeding in 

 Iceland is extremely doubtful and is not confirmed by 

 naturalists who have recently visited that country. 



