528 



in June I only saw males in the Irkutsk market, I judged that the females had already bred in 



their hiding-places This species certainly leaves earlier than most of the freshwater Ducks. 



Early in September they must commence their autumn migration. After the 5th they were not 

 to be seen in the Irkutsk market at all." 



The present species apparently wanders on rare occasions into European limits. Professor 

 Newton kindly informs us that it has occurred once or twice in Sweden ; and Mr. Meeves also 

 tells us that a specimen (a male) is at present in the Museum at Stockholm, which was procured 

 by the late Mr. Dyhr at the end of April 1853, near Skelleftea. Mr. Dyhr stated that a second 

 bird was seen at the same time, which probably was the female. 



It has also been obtained near Vienna. Herr von Pelzeln kindly informs us that a male in 

 summer plumage was shot on the Neusiedler Lake in September 1839, by Herr H. Kopp, 

 surgeon, of Aperlau. 



We are fortunate in being able to describe an egg of this rare Duck, now in Dresser's 

 collection, and obtained by him from the St.-Petersburg Museum. It was taken on the 8th of 

 June at Tolstoi-mir, on the Jenesei river, Siberia. In colour it is pale creamy white, resembling 

 that of the Common Wigeon's egg ; in texture it is very smooth, and in shape longer and more 

 pointed than the egg of the last-named bird. It measures 2^ inches by 1^ inch. 



We have taken our description and Plate from a fine pair of birds in our own collection, 

 the old male being one procured by Gustav Eadde, at Tunka, on the 8th of May, 1859, the 

 female having been presented to us by Mr. Swinhoe, by whom it was shot at Shanghai in March 

 1869. To the latter gentleman we are also indebted for the loan of the specimen of the young 

 male described above. It differs from the female chiefly in the spotted character of the under- 

 surface, and in the generally darker tone of the plumage. The head is slightly glossed with 

 green. From an examination of Mr. Swinhoe' s specimen it is evident that the bird figured by 

 Middendorff (Sibir. Beise, pi. xxi. fig. 2) as the female Anas falcata is really the young male. 



In the preparation of the above article we have examined the following specimens :— 



E Mus. Sharpe and Dresser, 

 a. 6- Tunka (G. Radde). b. 2. Shanghai {Swinhoe). 



E Mus. R. Swinhoe. 



a. 6 juv. Shanghai (R. S.). 



E Mus. H. B. Tristram, 

 a. 3 . Banks of the Amoor River (Leadbeater) . 



E Mus. Lord Walden. 

 a. Lake Baikal. 



