According to Sabanaeff it is found throughout Central Eussia, but becomes rare towards the 

 south, being only an occasional visitant to the Charkoff Government, and occurring in the Orloff" 

 Government only on passage. In the Ural he met with it everywhere, especially on the lakes and 

 rivers of the eastern slope. Mr. Taczanowski states that in summer it is common in all suitable 

 localities in Poland, arriving early in March and leaving about the end of October, a few being 

 occasionally met. with in winter. Borggreve says that it is found in summer throughout North 

 Germany in suitable localities, and it has been known to winter there ; and, according to 

 Naumann, it is both a migrant and a wanderer, in the latter case not a true migrant, but 

 merely changes its habitat at various seasons, and does not leave the country. Sometimes a few 

 small flocks remain over the winter, these being probably individuals which have passed the 

 summer in the high north. They migrate in September and October, and in March, generally 

 travelling in the night time or early in the morning and late in the evening, in flocks in the 

 autumn, but singly in the spring. According to Collin it is common throughout Denmark, and 

 it is also common in the countries bordering the German Ocean. Schlegel says that in Holland 

 it is one of the commonest of the summer residents, arriving in March and April, and leaving 

 again in the autumn. In Belgium and the north of France, as in Holland, it is common in the 

 summer, moving southward in the winter; but it is said to be rare in Portugal. In Spain 5 

 however, it is common, and resident in suitable localities. Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. 

 p. 117), "these birds are most abundant near Gibraltar from December to February; and I 

 have seen them on passage as late as the 7th of April. They do not remain to nest in the sotos 

 at Casa Vieja ; but near Seville, where they are often sold in cages under the name of Hortolano, 

 have seen them in May, and have no doubt that they there remain during the breeding-season." 



In Italy the present species is found both in the summer season and the winter, and breeds 

 in suitable localities ; but in Sardinia it is said to be a winter visitant ; and Mr. A. B. Brooke 

 states (Ibis, 1873, p. 246) that at that season it is "not uncommon along the banks of the 

 'stagnos' at Cagliari and Oristano." In Corsica it would appear to be rare, as Mr. C. Bygrave 

 Wharton says (Ibis, 1876, p. 25) that he only saw one (which he shot), on the 17th March, at 

 Biguglia; and Mr. C. A. Wright states (Ibis, 1864, p. 55) that it only visits Malta at long and 

 irregular intervals. Lord Lilford met with it in the Ionian Islands in winter ; and Dr. Kriiper 

 writes that it is only seen in Greece at that season of the year, leaving for the north as soon as 

 the warm spring weather sets in. In Southern Germany it is common in most districts where 

 suitable localities are found; and Dr. Fritsch speaks of it as being numerous in Bohemia, 

 arriving early in April and not leaving before December, and sometimes remaining over winter. 

 In Transylvania and most parts of Austria, as well as in the other countries bordering the 

 Danube, it is common ; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley say the same respecting its occurrence 

 in Turkey. Von Nordmann found it very common in all the marshy places covered with tall 

 aquatic plants, throughout Bessarabia and New Russia. In spring and autumn small flocks of 

 these birds frequent the large gardens near Odessa ; and large numbers appear to remain over 

 the winter in the above-named countries. 



It is a winter visitant to Asia Minor; Dr. Kruper obtained several near Smyrna; and 

 Mr. Danford also met with it when collecting in Asia Minor ; but Canon Tristram does not 

 record it from Palestine. 



