WILD FOWL 
General distribution. — The ferruginous duck inhabits Central, Southern 
and Eastern Europe, Western Asia as far east as Kashmir, and North 
Africa. It breeds from Holland southwards to Spain, and thence east- 
wards to the Volga. In Western Asia it nests in the temperate and elevated 
regions as far east as Kashmir, and is reported to have been met with in 
the valley of the Obi as far north as the Arctic Circle, but this statement 
seems to require confirmation. 
In North Africa it breeds plentifully in Morocco, also in Algeria and 
Tunis, its numbers being greatly increased in winter, when it is common 
in Egypt and Abyssinia, and ranges eastwards to India as far as the longi- 
tude of Calcutta, and southwards to about the 14° N. latitude. 
This species has been constantly confused with its more eastern ally, 
N. baerii which inhabits Eastern Siberia, China and Japan, and also visits 
India in winter. 
Distribution in the British Isles. — To the British Isles the ferruginous 
duck is a somewhat rare wanderer, and has been met with principally 
in the eastern and southern counties of England, though a few have been 
obtained in the west, and in Scotland as far north as the Tay; also in 
Ireland. 
Nest and eggs. — ^The nest is placed among rushes and other covert near 
the water, and is made of dry water-plants, lined with brownish-white 
down after the eggs are laid. These, from seven to fourteen in number, 
vary from cream -colour to pale buff, frequently with a greenish tinge, 
and measure about 2 • 1 by 1 *5 inches. Incubation lasts from twenty -two to 
twenty -three days. 
This duck frequents reedy pools with plenty of covert, and is a most 
expert diver. Its food consists not only of water-plants, but of insects, 
crustaceans and small molluscs, and its flesh varies in quality according 
to the food eaten. 
BBB 
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