FERRUGINOUS DUCK. 
145 
also a winter visitant, but it is much more rare than 
either, a few specimens only coming annually under 
the notice of those ornithologists who give up some 
portion of their time to the observation of what 
birds occur in the markets, and to sportsmen during 
the severity of the winter and spring. In the south, 
specimens are to he procured in the London mar- 
kets ; and Mr. Yarrell states that these “ are gene- 
rally received from the eastern counties, between the 
Thames and the Humber.” Towards the north of our 
island it becomes much more scarce, and we only 
recollect of having once met with the bird in a fresh 
state in the Edinburgh markets. Of its nidification 
or manners wo know very little ; according to Tem- 
minck, the nest is made near rivers and in marshes. 
On the continent of Europo it appears also to be 
rare, in the southern parts a winter visitant only ; 
while in the more northern districts it cannot be 
abundant, being omitted from works devoted to 
the natural history of portions of that range of 
country. Out of Europe, we have Africa men- 
tioned* as included in its range, but have not seen 
specimens from that country. It has been received 
from Alpine India and other parts of Asia. On the 
Indian peninsula, Mr. Jerdon states it to be rare, 
and seen generally in pairs. In North America it 
does not occur ; and from its absence from thence, 
and its apparent scarcity in Northern Europe, we 
may probably look for its breeding stations and 
summer retreats in the colder and north-eastern por- 
tions of the Asiatic continent. 
K 
