WIDGEON 
171 
Russia 
numerous travelers quoted by Pleske (1886), but it apparently is more common inland than on the 
coasts (A. T. von Middendorff, 1853). On the White Sea, Sahlberg and Malmberg {fide Pleske, 1886) 
found it at Kandalaksk, at the head of the bay of the same name, and throughout eastern Finland 
south through Karelia to the Ladoga region. In southwestern Finland the species breeds quite rarely 
but becomes common in the central and northern parts (Suomalainen, 1908). But Palmgren (1913) 
speaks of it as a common breeding bird about Helsingfors. Dresser (1871-81) says he found it about 
everywhere in Finland and Palmen’s (1876) statement amounts to the same thing, acknowledging, 
of course, its comparative scarcity in the southwest. Because of inadequate information it is quite 
impossible to determine with any great degree of accuracy the southern limit of the breeding range 
in Russia. It is certainly very abundant in the northernmost parts, throughout the 
whole White Sea region, the Archangel Government, the Lower Petchora and east- 
ward to the Urals, becoming ever more common toward the east (Harvie-Brown, 1876). In this 
region it has been specifically recorded for the Karelian coast (Rae, 1881), Archangel (Goebel, 1871 ; 
Liljeborg, 1852; Seebohm, 1882; Alston and Harvie-Brown, 1873; etc.), and the lower Petchora 
(Harvie-Browm, 1876). On the Arctic Sea the species has been found on the Kolguev Island in the 
middle of June (Trevor-Battye, 1895), in Ljamtschina Gulf, Vaigach Island (von Heuglin, 1872) 
and in Sassen Bay, western Spitzbergen (Konig, 1908). Jourdain (1922) recorded it for Bear Isle 
and Spitzbergen but found no nests. Passing southward in Russia, the status of the species in the 
vicinity of Petrograd is very uncertain. According to Sievers (1877) it is a common breeder in 
Olonez Government about Ladoga and Onega, and this seems likely when we consider how commonly 
the species breeds in southeastern Finland. Brandt (1880) says it is numerous about Petrograd in 
summer, but Buchner (1885) proceeds to show that these are flocks consisting of males only and that 
to his knowledge the species does not breed at Petrograd. Personally I believe Deditius (1885) is 
correct in saying that not many breed there; some certainly must, for the species breeds rarely at 
Novgorod, and Goebel (1871) says he saw it on the Volga below Tver in summer. According to 
Loudon (1909) the species is found throughout the summer in all the Baltic Provinces, but these are 
very likely flocks of males, such as occur also in Poland in summer (Taczanovrski, 1888). Eastward 
of the Baltic the breeding range apparently extends farther and farther south, the birds nesting in 
the north in Vologda (Goebel, 1871; Mejakoff, 1856) and in the Perm Government rarely at Ekater- 
inburg but commonly in the southeastern part, and particularly about Shadrinsk. Hoffman has 
recorded it for the Urals, 62° north latitude (Harvie-Brown, 1878). Farther south it breeds over a 
very extended area, commonly in Moscow (Menzbier, 1881; Lorenz, 1892) and in Tula (Menzbier, 
1881; Harvie-Brown, 1878) and even in Tambow (Harvie-Brown, 1878). Farther east it breeds in 
Kazan (Russki, 1893). Bogdanow {fide Dresser, 1871-81) says it breeds in the black-earth districts of 
the Volga, and Moeschler (1853) states that it is very common from March to October and breeds 
about Sarepta, on the lower Volga. This seems not incredible when we turn to the breeding range in 
Asia. 
In the Kirgis the Widgeon seems to be a regular breeder (Nazarow, 1887; Suschkin, 1914) and this 
is very likely its most southern breeding ground. In western Siberia it was found in 
Akmolinsk in June (Bianchi, 1902) and undoubtedly breeds in the whole region about 
the Tobol, Ischim, Irtysch and Ob Rivers, and north of a line drawn from Sarepta, on 
the lower Volga, to the northern shore of Lake Balkasch or the Tarbagatai Mountains. In the dis- 
trict north and east of Lake Balkasch the species was found by Finsch (1879) on the Ala-kul in early 
May, on the Marka-kul in June, and all along the Ob River, where he says it w'as the commonest 
non-diving duck. On the upper Irtysch he met with it at Buchtarminsk in the middle of June, and 
concerning this same region Suschkin (1913) says it breeds at Minussinsk, on the upper Jenesei, and 
on the northern slopes of the Tannu Mountains, in the Russian Altai, in the Saissan-nor lowland, as 
well as in southwestern Siberia. Ushakov (1913) speaks of it as a common breeder in Tobolsk Gov- 
ernment. Farther north Finsch (1879) was told by Slovzoff that it was common on Lake Chany, 
