62 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



that the bird has not more frequently been met with, for it nests 

 in some numbers in Iceland. It is not common in north-western 

 Europe, but ranges eastward through Asia into North America. 

 In Iceland it appears to be resident, merely migrating in winter 

 from the north to the south of the island. 



The drake is a showy bird, blue-black in general coloui- of the 

 upper parts, rich chestnut on the flanks and with a streak of 

 the same colour on either side of the crown, boldly marked with 

 white on the sides of the face in front of the eye, on the cheeks 

 and sides of the nape, and with a white collar, incomplete 

 breast band, and patches on the wings. The bill is blue-black, 

 the legs brownish slate, and the irides orange. The female is 

 almost uniform brown above, and on the throat and under parts 

 brownish white with darker mottlings. In front and behind the 

 eye are dull white patches ; in the duck Long-tail the face is 

 whitish, the cheek patch brown. Length, 17 ins. Wing, 8 ins. 

 Tarsus, i "3 ins. 



Long-tailed Duck. Clangiila hyanalis (Linn.). 



The Long-tailed Duck (Plate 24) is a winter visitor all round 

 our shores, though more plentiful in Scotland and on the east 

 coast than elsewhere. It is, almost certainly, an occasional 

 nester in the Shetlands and Orkneys, where it is frequently met 

 with in summer. Mr. O. V. Aplin's statement that the bird 

 nested in Orkney in 1911 was questioned, as he refused to dis- 

 close his evidence, though the eggs and down — not taken by 

 him — were examined and confirmed as those of this species ; 

 his reticence was justified, for attempts were made by collectors 

 to discover the nesting site ; he was silent for the sake of the 

 birds. The breeding range of the Long-tail is circumpolar and 

 mainly Arctic ; it is abundant in Iceland. In winter it reaches 

 southern Europe, and Florida in America. 



There is always something characteristic about the Long- 

 tailed Duck whatever plumage it is in ; it is small and squat 



