268 THE SCOTTISH NATURALIST 



intermittently using the bill as a comb, running it through the 

 feathers with unusual persistency and force. The duration of the 

 preening seems likewise to be unusually prolonged, and it is a common 

 sight to see birds surrounded by a considerable quantity of down 

 and contour-feathers dislodged during the process. The general 

 aspect of the proceedings is, in fact, strongly suggestive of some 

 irritating factor at work, inducing the birds to preen with greater 

 frequency and with more than customary vigour. Such an irritating 

 factor, if it exists, is of obvious interest in its possible bearing on the 

 well-known habits of the species in connection with the nest. This 

 tendency to emphasised preening extends to the male — although in 

 his case any dislodgment of feathers is much less in evidence — and 

 that such is the case might appear to be an objection to the view 

 suggested ; but there is, it appears, sufficient independent evidence 

 to show that the nesting-instincts of the race are not confined to the 

 female sex. 



Apart from the nesting season Tufted-ducks are to be seen 

 ashore only on infrequent occasions, but in this respect their habits 

 undergo a notable alteration subsequent to the settling down in the 

 breeding-quarters, when much time is passed ashore. Some of 

 their activities on land are suggestive. Perhaps in this connection I 

 may be permitted to give from my notes one or two representative 

 extracts : — 



" 22nd April . . . . — A drake in the water swam up to a pair of 

 birds sitting side by side on the grass by the edge of the pond. As 

 he approached he adopted the typical attitude of hostility, the head 

 laid back on the shoulders and the tip of the bill raised. He 

 jumped ashore and drove off the female, and settled down in the 

 vacated place, but almost immediately took to the water again. 

 The drake on shore thereupon went into the same spot (a shallow 

 hollow in the grass) and squatted in it. After a short period of 

 inactivity he began to pluck with his bill at the surrounding vegeta- 

 tion, and later took a few steps forward to the water's edge and 

 plucked at pieces of grass or other substance, returning afterwards to 

 the same hollow. A Coot now came on shore and commenced 

 grazing, and on passing near the drake made a threatening motion, 

 whereupon the latter bird moved hastily aside a few feet. On the 

 disappearance of the Coot, the female Tufted-duck went in turn to 

 the hollow, and settling down in it, began pulling at the surrounding 

 grass in the manner previously shown by the male, also reaching out 

 to the water's edge and attempting to pluck some long vegetation 

 growing there. I could not, however, actually discern anything in 

 her bill. A Waterhen next proved a fresh source of disturbance, 



