CATAI.OGUK OF BIRDS. 273 



"In some parts of Norfolk and Lincolnshire it nests 

 regularly, and sparingly in Yorkshire, Durham, 

 and Northumberland ; whilst near Rainworth, in 

 Nottinghamshire, it is decidedly increasing. In 

 Wales and on the west side of E norland it is rarer ; 

 though a few pairs inhabit the marshes on the 

 Cumberland side of the Solway, . . . it is almost 

 unknown in the Outer islands or in the south, and 

 nests at Abbeyleix, in Queen's Co., Lough Derg, on 

 the Shannon, Lough Portmore, in co. Antrim, and 

 a few other localities in Ireland." 



The same author says : "The nest is usually on 

 dry ground in rank vegetation or tufts of rushes, 

 and is made of fine grass with a lining of down, 

 plucked by the female from her body after she 

 begins to sit. The eggs — eight to fourteen, are of a 

 pale greenish-buff colour," This Duck feeds on 

 "grasses, worms, slugs, snails, aquatic, or even 

 winged insects, and small crustaceans." 



I think I can endorse what Howard Saunders 

 gives as the diet of the Shoveller. In the 

 account of my operations during my stay at Castle 

 Gregory, I said there were several varieties of Duck 

 on a certain lake, but there was no means of eettino- 

 near them, and the only chance lay in waiting for 

 them late in the evening when the daylight was on 

 the wane. 



Well, in the position I used to take up on such 

 evenings for "flighting," as it is usually called, I had 

 seen these birds fly down an inland creek on the side 

 opposite to where I was posted, and consequently 



