THE COMMON WILD DUCK 207 



feathers brownish-grey, broadly edged with white ; 

 the four middle ones curled and black. Nail on bill 

 brown ; legs and feet orange. Length, from bill to 

 tail, twenty-four inches. 



Female. — The bill greenish-grey ; upper parts 

 dusky-brown, edged with pale reddish-brown ; throat 

 whitish ; lower parts greyish-yellow, spotted and 

 streaked with darker shades. Tail feathers straight, 

 speculum as in the male. 



The nest of the common Wild Duck, which is 

 large, and roughly made of sedges, flags, and grasses, 

 is usually placed on the ground in a marsh, or among 

 reeds or rushes, or even in hollows or deserted nests 

 in trees, and very often in heather, at some consider- 

 able distance from water. It contains from six to 

 ten eggs, a dull greenish-white in colour. The duck 

 sits very closely, allowing herself to be almost 

 trampled on. When she leaves them voluntarily, 

 they are covered up by her. 



