NON-INDIGEXOUS BRITISH BIRDS. 177 



again to flock and to keep company until the following 

 spring. Of the pairing habits of this Duck nothing 

 appears to be known. Its favourite breeding grounds 

 are the open wooded areas studded with lakes and 

 streams and swamps, as well as the bare treeless barren 

 grounds, with their rush and grass-fringed pools and 

 bogs. The nest is usually made near the water amongst 

 scrub and coarse vegetation. MacFarlane and others 

 have found the nest of this Scoter at the foot of pine 

 trees concealed by the drooping lower branches ; Audubon 

 shot the female from a nest in a tussock of grass in a 

 marsh. The nest is merely a hollow in the ground, 

 lined with any scraps of vegetation that may chance to 

 be near, and also with quantities of down and a few 

 feathers plucked from the body of the female. The 

 bird sits closely, and when leaving the nest to go and 

 feed carefully covers the eggs, to shield them from the 

 prying glances of enemies. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Surf Scoter are from five to eight in 

 number, the latter, however, being exceptional. They 

 are smooth in texture, with little polish, and pale 

 grayish-buff in colour. Average measurement, 2*3 

 inches in length by 1-65 inch in breadth. Incubation 

 is performed by the female, but the duration of the 

 period is unknown. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of this Scoter 

 are distinguished by their size and colour, being smaller 

 than those of the Common Scoter and those of both 

 forms of the Velvet Scoter. Whether the down is of 

 any service as an additional means of identification 

 I cannot say, as no naturalist appears ever to have 

 described it. 



