666 



who met with it on the Petchora river, say (Ibis, 1876, p. 447) "the first" common Scoter was 

 identified as it flew close past the steamer at Ust Zylma on the 1st June. Afterwards, at various 

 localities, common Scoters were seen by us as we floated down stream ; and they were common 

 on the tundra as far north as Stanavoialachta, especially among the lakes near Vassilkova and 

 Yooshiua and at Stanavoialachta, where the tundra has more the appearance of a rolling prairie 

 than elsewhere." Mr. L. Sabanaeff says that it is common in Central Russia on passage, and 

 occurs at the same seasons on the lakes in the Ural, where it probably breeds in the northern 

 portion of the Perm Government. It is said to be but a rare bird in the Baltic Provinces, where 

 it occurs in winter or on passage. 



Borggreve says that it is a regular winter visitant to the shores of North Germany, though 

 not very common. It is, however, more numerous in the North Sea, and less so in the Baltic 

 than the Velvet Scoter. Baron von Droste-Hulshoff says that it has been seen at all seasons of 

 the year in Borkum, but it has not been known to breed on that island or in North Germany. 

 According to Mr. J. Collin it appears on the coasts of Denmark in August or September, 

 becoming more numerous in October and November, and is most so during severe winters. One 

 was obtained on the Flensborg fjord in July. Professor Schlegel speaks of it as being one of 

 the commonest marine Ducks found on the coast of Holland during the cold season ; and it is 

 equally common in Belgium, rarely, however, visiting inland marshes and rivers during severe 

 weather. It visits the coasts of France in immense numbers in cold weather, especially during 

 north-west winds, and usually leaves in April ; but stray individuals may be observed off Dun- 

 kerque throughout the year. In the south of France it is of rare occurrence ; but it appears to 

 pass with tolerable regularity along the valley of the Rhone and through Savoy on its way to 

 the Swiss lakes ; and M. Adrien Lacroix says that it occurs regularly on passage in the French 

 Pyrenees. Professor Barboza du Boeage includes it in his list of birds found in Portugal ; and 

 Dr. Eey found it tolerably numerous there in March. Colonel Irby says (Orn. Str. Gibr. p. 205) 

 that he found this Duck in some seasons very common about the Straits of Gibraltar, especially 

 after rough weather in Gibraltar Bay, but it only appears in small lots. The earliest noticed 

 was seen on the 12th November, and the latest on the 12th March. Mr. Howard Saunders 

 observed one exposed for sale in the market at Malaga ; and Colonel Irby informs me that it is 

 frequently seen near Santander in May, and one was observed as late as the 21st of June. In 

 Italy it is of rare and accidental occurrence ; and, indeed, in the Mediterranean it is only known 

 as a very rare straggler. Dr. Kriiper records it as of very rare occurrence in Greece ; and Lord 

 Lilford, in a letter just received, writes to me, it is " a very scarce bird in the Mediterranean. 

 We saw a pair in the Gulf of Foz, near Tour St. Louis, November 1874." It is occasionally 

 met with on inland waters in Southern Germany; and Dr. A. Fritsch states (J. f. 0. 1872, p. 372) 

 that it is exceedingly rare in Bohemia, where the following captures have been recorded : — one 

 at Franzensbad, obtained by Mr. Khittl; one at Hohenelbe in December 1846 ; one on the 

 Mastiger pond, Arnau, on the 17th April 1848; one on the Moldau, near Klecan, not far from 

 Prague; and the specimen in the college at Budweis was shot by Burger, a tanner, on the 

 Moldau. I have found no record of its occurrence on the Lower Danube ; and Professor von 

 Nordmann says that he never met with it in Southern Russia, but quotes Pallas as to its occur- 

 ence on the Black Sea. It is stated also to occur in the Caspian; and Canon Tristram says that 



