599 



it is stated by Professor Barboza du Bocage to be rare in Portugal ; and tbe same may be said 

 respecting its occurrence in Spain; for Colonel Irby states that it " rarely occurs about the Straits 

 of Gibraltar in winter." 



It visits the mountain-lakes of Savoy every year in November and December, and likewise 

 in spring on its passage northwards ; and in Italy it is common during winter, though old males 

 are rare. In Sicily it is not so abundant ; and in Sardinia it is, Mr. A. B. Brooke writes (Ibis, 

 1873, p. 344), not very common; but he saw a few fine adult males near Cristano. Mr. C. A. 

 Wright cites only one instance of its occurrence at Malta; but Lord Lilford says (Ibis, 1860, 

 p. 354) that it is not uncommon in the Ionian islands during winter ; and both Von der Miihle 

 and Lindermayer speak of it as being a common winter visitant throughout Greece in suitable 

 localities. 



It is found here and there in Southern Germany during the cold season ; Dr. Fritsch records 

 it from Bohemia ; and Mr. Seidensacher informed me that small flocks arrive in Styria in the 

 autumn, and a few remain over the winter. Those which are obtained there are chiefly young 

 birds. Messrs. Danford and Harvie-Brown speak of it as being met with not uncommonly on 

 the larger lakes and rivers of Transylvania during winter ; and Professor von Nordmann states 

 that it is common on the Black Sea at that season. Dr. Kriiper informs me that it is numerous 

 off the coast of Turkey ; but I have very meagre data respecting its occurrence off that of Asia 

 Minor. Dr. Brehm states that it is met with in winter in the lagoons of the Nile delta ; but 

 Von Heuglin remarks that he never met with it anywhere in North-east Africa, nor does Captain 

 Shelley include it in his work on the birds of Egypt. It is, however, met with in North-west 

 Africa, being, Loche says, of very rare and accidental occurrence in Algeria in winter. 



To the eastward it is found right across the continent of Asia. Mr. Blanford did not meet 

 with it in Persia ; nor does it appear to have ever straggled as far south as- India ; but Severtzoff 

 speaks of it as being a rare winter visitant to Turkestan, and it is common in Northern Asia. 

 Von Middendorff first observed it on the 23rd April near Amginsk; and it was, he says, common 

 on the western side of the Stanowoj Mountains. In September he observed it on the south 

 coast of the Sea of Ochotsk. Von Schrenk found it during the winter on the island of Saghalien ; 

 and Dr. Radde believes that a large number remain in Southern Siberia to breed. He saw five 

 specimens in the Irkutsk market on the 12th June, and shot two young, not fully grown, birds 

 on the Dwatschanda Lake on the 3rd August. The Golden-eye winters, he adds, on the Baikal 

 Lake, where the Angara flows out ; and specimens are brought to the Irkutsk market throughout 

 the winter. It is found in Kamtschatka and across to the American continent. It is recorded 

 by Messrs. Temminck and Schlegel as common in Japan ; and Mr. Swinhoe says that he has 

 obtained it in winter as far south as Amoy, and that it is common at Shanghai. 



On the American continent the present species is numerous in the north during the breed- 

 ing-season, and during the winter migrates at least as far south as Mexico. I found it common 

 in winter in New Brunswick and Canada, where it also remains to breed ; and it appears to be 

 generally distributed in suitable localities in British North America. Mr. Dall, who obtained it 

 at Nulato, in Alaska, in May, says that it always arrives early, and is common on the Yukon and 

 on the sea-coast. Its eggs were obtained near Pastolik. In the winter season it is spread all 



