EGGS OF BEITISH BIRDS. 41 



are described as precisely the same as those of our birds. It 

 chooses the same localities, both in its winter quarters and at its 

 breeding-grounds. It is not known that the nest or eggs differ 

 in any way. The latter are creamy-white in colour, and vary in 

 size from 1*85 by 1"35 inch to 1'75 by 1*3 inch. 



THE GAKGANEY. 

 (Anas circia.)* 



Plate 16, Fig. 4. 



The Garganey is a somewhat scarce and very local visitor to 

 the British Islands on migration, breeding sparingly in one or two 

 favoured districts. It is a rare visitor to Scotland and to Ireland ; 

 but it would doubtless breed in the latter country if not molested. 

 It nests regularly in Norfolk, where it is thought to be increasing 

 in numbers, and it formerly bred in the fens of Cambridgeshire 

 and Huntingdonshire, before they were drained. It is not im- 

 probale that it may nest in several localities in the southern 

 counties of England, where it is known as a rare spring 

 visitor ; but it breeds in some numbers in Denmark, Sweden, 

 the Baltic Provinces, Finland, and North-west Kussia as far as 

 Archangel. In Siberia it appears to be confined to the extreme 

 south. It breeds more or less abundantly throughout Southern 

 Europe, the Caucasus, and Turkestan, and a few are said 

 occasionally to remain to nest in India, Burmah, and China. 

 The first eggs are seldom laid before May. The nest is placed in 

 a variety of positions, hidden under a bush or in thick grass or 

 sedge, far away from water, in the forest, or among the corn — 

 anywhere and everywhere where a hidden retreat can be found. 

 It is made very deep, and is lined with dead grass and leaves, to 

 which is afterwards added plenty of down. The number of eggs 

 varies from eight to twelve, or sometimes fourteen. They are 

 buffish- white or cream-colour. They vary in length from 1*9 to 

 1'7 inch, and in breadth from 14 to 1'3 inch. It is impossible to 

 distinguish eggs of the Garganey from those of the Teal, but, 

 fortunately for the egg-collector, the down of the Garganey 

 cannot easily be mistaken for that of any other British Duck ; 



* Querquedula circia— Saunders, Manual, p. 423. Querquedula querquedula — 

 Sharpe, Handb., II., p. 291. 



