688 



than the Red-breasted Merganser. I have met with it in Sweden throughout the country as 

 far up as Tornea; and it is stated to breed far up in Lapland, where it is not uncommon. 

 Dr. Palmen says that it is common in Finland during passage, but not so very numerous during 

 the breeding-season, at which season it is chiefly found in the interior and northern parts. I 



o 



observed it frequently in different parts of the country north of Abo, and obtained a con- 

 siderable number of its eggs near Uleaborg during the spring I collected near that town. 



In Russia it is common in the northern governments, and I have received many specimens 

 from Archangel, where, I am told, it is very numerous. Sabanaeff says that it breeds in the 

 Government of Tver, and is common on the Northern and Central Volga. He met with it in 

 the Ural, where, he says, it breeds in the Perm Government, and is common on the south- 

 western slopes of the Ural range. 



In North Germany it is, as a rule, a winter visitant ; but it has been found breeding in 

 Pomerania, and Dr. C. Vangerow states (J. f. O. 1855, p. 345) that on two occasions the female 

 bird was caught on her eggs near Berlin. In Denmark it occurs sparingly, Mr. Benzon informs 

 me, in all the provinces, in localities where the forest is close to the water, and remains to 

 breed, nesting in hollow trees. It has, he writes, " many local names, — the commonest of which 

 is Stor Skallesluger ; but it is also called Qui Skallesluger, Gulskrcep, Skrokand (in Falster), Gul 

 spids ncebbet And, sometimes Skorand, and erroneously Havgasse, which last is really the name 

 of the Great Northern Diver." It visits Belgium and Holland in the autumn, and remains 

 there throughout the winter, frequenting the sea-coast and unfrozen waters during the cold 

 weather. Mr. Labouchere informs me that large flocks are often seen on the Dutch coast 

 during severe winters; and Baron von Droste Hulshoff writes that it is not rare in East 

 Friesland from December to March, and he has observed it as late as the end of April or early 

 in May on the sea-coast. It does not, however, he adds, frequent the salt water so much as the 

 rivers and freshwater ponds or sheets of water in the interior. It sometimes occurs on the 

 Island of Borkum, but only after heavy storms. In France it is tolerably common on passage 

 and in winter, when it is often seen on inland sheets of water ; and it passes through Provence 

 and Savoy during migration, but is somewhat rare in Southern France. I have no data 

 respecting its occurrence in Portugal ; but Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it in his list. 

 It is stated by Mr. Howard Saunders (Ibis, 1871, p. 397) to occur in Spain during winter, 

 especially at the Albufera; and Colonel Irby sends me a note to the effect that immature and 

 young birds have occurred during winter in Southern Spain. All along the coasts of Southern 

 Europe skirting the Mediterranean it is a rare bird, occurring only in the winter, chiefly in 

 severe seasons. Salvadori speaks of it as being very rare in Italy, especially in the southern parts, 

 as also in Sicily and Sardinia, and he writes (J. f. 0. 1865, p. 326) that he has never seen but one 

 Sardinian-killed example, which is now in the Museum at Cagliari. It is doubtful if it has 

 really occurred at Malta ; and Lord Lilford says that it is an uncertain and rare visitor in 

 Epirus. Erhardt did not meet with it in the Cyclades ; but Linderrnayer states that it is met 

 with during severe winters in Greece. 



In Southern Germany it is a tolerably regular winter visitant ; and Dr. A. Fritsch says that 

 both old and young birds are obtained in Bohemia during the cold weather. When on the 

 Danube I was assured that it occurs there regularly; and Messrs. Elwes and Buckley state 



