4 



the 20th July, at Nischmosersk, in 64° 5' N. lat., but did not succeed in obtaining any of the 

 young ones, as they dived and concealed themselves amongst the rushes. Mr. Sabanaeff informs 

 me that it is commoner than either of the other Mergansers in the Governments of Moscow and 

 Jaroslaf during the seasons of migration. Eversmann and Bogdanoff say that it is common in 

 the Governments of Kazan, Orenburg, Saratoff, and Simbirsk ; and Sabanaeff found it breeding 

 on the borders of the lakes in the black-earth districts of the Ural. Mr. Jacovleff says that it 

 breeds very numerously in the neighbourhood of Astrachan, but is only met with near Sarepta 

 during migration. 



It visits the coasts of Germany during the winter season, and is also found far up the 

 country on the rivers and lakes, but is much rarer than either the Goosander or Red-breasted 

 Merganser. Mr. Wiese says (J. f. O. 1867, p. 83) that a pair were killed on a lake in a wood 

 near Greifswald early in May, and that a few days later a nest containing eggs was found in a 

 hollow tree, which he believes might be the eggs of this species, as they were small and neither 

 so yellow as Goosanders' eggs nor yet so greenish grey as those of the Merganser; but much 

 better evidence is, I think, necessary before it can be surmised that the species has bred in 

 Germany. It is said to occur sparingly on the Elbe and Rhine during the winter, and also 

 visits Denmark during the two seasons of migration, but does not appear to be at all numerous. 

 In Belgium it is common during winter in the marshes north of the Campine, and is also met 

 with on the rivers. It is found on the Dutch coast every winter, but is not numerous; and 

 Baron von Droste Hiilshoff says that it is often obtained on the Island of Borkum, where, 

 however, it does not appear until severe frosts set in, and becomes somewhat commoner in 

 February and March. It is a winter visitant to the northern coasts of France, and has also been 

 met with in Provence. Professor Barboza du Bocage includes it with a query in his list of the 

 birds of Portugal; but Mr. Howard Saunders (Ibis, 1871, p. 37) says that it occurs in Spain 

 during the winter, especially at the Albufera. Passing eastward again, I find it recorded as 

 occurring during the cold season on the lakes and rivers of Savoy ; and it is likewise a tolerably 

 numerous winter visitant to Italy and Sicily, rarer, however, in the latter country, and usually 

 seen in immature plumage; and Mr. A. B. Brooke (Ibis, 1873, p. 345) speaks of it as being in 

 Sardinia " of not uncommon occurrence in winter." Mr. C. A. Wright, who records its occur- 

 rence at Malta, says (Ibis, 1864, p. 291) that "during some extraordinarily bad weather which 

 prevailed about the middle of January last, a good many Ducks of various kinds, and Teal, were 

 driven on the island by the severity of the weather — and amongst them a number of Mergus 

 albellus (an exceedingly rare bird in Malta), of which I obtained an adult female and several 

 young birds, also females. Male Smews seem to be universally scarce ;" and he further says (Ibis, 

 1870, p. 492) that "a fine adult male was obtained in the winter of 1868, and preserved for the 

 University Museum ; and at the same time one or two females were shot." Lord Lilford found 

 it common in February and March in Epirus ; and Messrs. Elvves and Buckley speak of it as 

 numerous in Macedonia, where it frequents inland waters and deep still streams which intersect 

 the marshes ; and they all remark that but very few adult males are ever seen there. Both 

 Lindermayer and Von der Miihle speak of it as being commoner in Greece than either M. 

 merganser or M. serrator; and the latter says that it is almost as numerous as the Golden- 

 eye, in the company of which species it is usually seen, and is exceedingly tame and fearless. 



