544 



In Sweden it is common in the extreme north during the summer season, and occasionally 

 a pair or two breed as far south as Smaland. In August the main body of those which breed in 

 the north arrive in Central and Southern Sweden; and though the major portion leave the 

 country in November and December to return early in April, yet many spend the entire winter 

 in the south of Sweden. In Finland I observed it almost everywhere ; and Dr. Palmen states 

 (Finl. Fogl. ii. p. 397) that it "breeds in all parts of the country, most numerously, however, in 

 the northern and central districts. In Lapland it is numerous to Utsjoki, and is found along the 

 Pasvik river to the coasts of the Arctic Ocean, and in Enontekis to Mukkajarvi and Kilpisjarvi." 

 Middendorff certainly says that it is rare round the Lapland peninsula ; but it is common in the 

 interior, though it does not pass down to the mouths of the rivers. Sahlberg and Malmberg 

 found it at Kantalaks. It breeds numerously throughout Osterbotten, in Northern Savolaks, 

 and in Hvittis, as well as in the southern parts of Eastern Finland, near Nyslott, in Ladoga 

 Karelen, and Russian Karelen. It breeds more rarely in Kankaanpaa, and in South-western 

 Finland, near Bjorneborg, Ylane, on Kakskerta, and in Nyland." 



Sabanaeff says that it is numerous in the northern portions of Russia, but breeds in Central 

 Russia much less frequently than any other species. It is met with in the Government of Tula 

 and Tamboff; and, according to Bogdanoff, it breeds in the black-earth districts on the Volga. 

 Mr. Sabanaeff states that it breeds, though rarely, near Ekaterinburg, and is numerous in the 

 south-eastern portions of that Government and in the Shadrinsk Government, and is more 

 numerous on the lakes of the Ural than in those on the steppes. Throughout Germany it is 

 common during passage, but has only been known to breed there in very exceptional cases. 

 Naumann states that in some seasons it is very numerous, and in others somewhat rare, and 

 never remains there over the winter. In Denmark it is common in winter; and Kjserbolling 

 thinks that now and again a pair may remain to breed there ; and all along the coasts of the 

 North Sea it is found during passage and in the winter, the numbers lessening somewhat 

 during severe weather, when many pass further south. Baron von Droste Hiilshoff says that on 

 the island of Borkum the first arrived in August, but the main body of them did not appear 

 before about the 20th September. He adds that it has never been known to breed in Holland, 

 which, I think, is probably the case — though Mr. Labouchere informs me that there are rare 

 instances of its having been found nesting in that country. In Belgium and the north of France 

 it is common in spring and autumn, and especially so in the marshes of North Brabant ; but I 

 think that the statement made by Degland and Gerbe (Orn. Eur. ii. p. 513) to the effect that it 

 sometimes breeds in France, in the marshes, must be accepted with caution. It occurs in 

 Portugal in winter ; and Mr. Howard Saunders speaks of it as being numerous in Spain in the 

 winter and early in the spring. Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 202) of the Wigeon, " they 

 commence to arrive in Southern Spain early in October ; but the greater number do not appear 

 until November ; and they are then by far the most common of the Anatidse, in some winters 

 swarming in thousands on the Laguna de la Janda. Their departure for the north begins about 

 the end of March ; but a few linger on throughout the whole of April." Lord Lilford mentions 

 to me in a note lately received, that he saw five Wigeon on the Guadalquivir, a short distance 

 above San Lucar de Barameda, as late as the 1st of May, 1875. 



Passing eastward, again, I find it recorded from Savoy as occurring in the autumn from the 



