132 BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 



alight obliquely on the water with considerable force. 

 At both swimming and diving the Wild-Duck is no 

 mean performer, although it belongs to the group of 

 'non-diving' Ducks, so called to distinguish them from the 

 ' diving "" Ducks, which habitually obtain their food from 

 the bottom in comparatively deep water. The present 

 species does not use its powers for this purpose as a 

 rule, but feeds on land or in shallow water. In the 

 latter case the method is that employed by the farm- 

 yard bird on the duck-pond. The bird ' stands on its 

 head "" in the water, the fore-part of the body submerged 

 and the tail pointing skywards, while the paddling of 

 the feet maintains equilibrium. Even in the wild state 

 the species is almost omnivorous. Like most Ducks, it is 

 almost entirely a night feeder. 



On land the Wild-Duck does not appear to great 

 advantage, although it is less clumsy than the domestic 

 bird ; the legs are placed far back for advantage in 

 the water, the resulting awkwardness in walking being 

 of minor importance. Half-bred and hand-reared Ducks 

 are always built on clumsier and coarser lines than real 

 wild birds, although they may be infinitely superior in 

 this respect to thoroughly domesticated Ducks. 



Late in March or early in April the eggs are laid. 

 They may be up to a dozen in number, and are of a 

 uniform cold grayish-green hue. The nest in which they 

 are laid is typically a slight structure of grass placed 

 on the ground among heather or coarse herbage at some 

 little distance from the water ; but grain-fields, hedge- 

 rows, stacks of faggots, forks or hollows of trees, and 

 even the deserted nests of other birds are more or less 

 frequently utilised. In any case, down from the mother- 

 bird's breast is added as a lining, and also to be at hand 

 for a covering in her absence. This is a habit character- 



