EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 43 



tailed Duck and Mallard, it has very conspicuous white tips, quite 

 as conspicuous as in the down of the Wigeon, more so than in 

 that of the Pintail, but not so much so as in that of the Garganey. 



THE MALLARD. 

 (Anas boscas.) 



Plate 13, Fig. 6. 



The Mallard is generally distributed throughout the British 

 Islands, breeding in all suitable localities, including the Hebrides, 

 the Orkneys, Shetlands, and Ireland. It is a circumpolar bird, 

 though it is rarely, if ever, found north of the Arctic Circle. It 

 breeds more or less abundantly throughout the Palaearctic and 

 Nearctic Regions, but in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the 

 Southern States of America, it is principally known as a winter 

 visitor. 



The nest is seldom placed close to water, and has even been 

 found in deserted nests of Rooks and Crows. It is occasionally 

 found in hollow tree-stumps, and sometimes on the tops of pollard 

 willows. When on the ground it is a carelessly constructed mass 

 of dead grass and leaves, deep, and carefully concealed amongst 

 long grass or under bushes. The eggs vary in number from eight 

 to twelve, and it is said that as many as sixteen are occasionally 

 found. They vary in colour from greenish-buff to pale buffish- 

 green, in length from 2'5 to 2'2 inches, and in breadth from 1/7 

 to 1'5 inch. Small examples are very liable to be mistaken for 

 eggs of the Pintail and Long-tailed Duck ; but the down is much 

 larger than that of the Long-tailed Duck, and has very incon- 

 spicuous white tips, whilst that of the Pintail has the latter 

 conspicuous ; it is almost neutral grey in colour, occasionally 

 with a slight tinge of brown. 



THE RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 

 (Fuligula rufina.)* 



Plate 14, Fig. 0. 

 About a score of examples have been procured in Great Britain, 

 and perhaps as many more observed. One has been obtained in 

 Scotland, one in Wales, and one in Ireland. The Red-crested 



* Netta rufina — Sharpe, Handb., III., p. 2. 



