240 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



a few feathers from the body of the female. The bird 

 is a closer sitter, but when flushed makes little or no 

 demonstration. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Pochard are from eight to twelve or 

 even fourteen in number, ten being an average clutch. 

 They are brownish-gray or greenish-drab in colour, and 

 smooth in texture. Average measurement, 2*4 inches in 

 length, by 17 inch in breadth. Incubation, performed 

 by the female, lasts from twenty-five to twenty-eight 

 days. 



Diagnostic characters : The eggs of the Pochard 

 cannot be distinguished from exceptionally large eggs of 

 the Tufted Duck, but the down may be taken as an 

 important aid to their correct identification. In the 

 present species the down tufts are large, grayish-brown 

 in colour, with dull white centres. 



Family ANATID^. Genus Fuligula. 



Sub-family FULIGULINJE. 



TUFTED DUCK. 



Fuligula cristata, Leach. 



Single Brooded. Laying season, latter half of April, May, 

 and June. 



British breeding area : The Tufted Duck breeds 

 locally throughout the British Islands. In England it 

 is known to do so in Northumberland, Lancashire, 

 Yorkshire, Shropshire, Notts, Norfolk, Sussex, Hertford- 

 shire, Dorset, and Devonshire (at Slapton Ley). In 

 Scotland it breeds in Roxburghshire, Perthshire, Kinross- 



