BRITAIN^S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 141 



vivid contrast with the dark upper plumage. The duck 

 has the crest less well developed, and has the upper 

 plumage dull sooty-brown instead of glossy black, and the 

 under-parts dark gray with still darker bars, instead of 

 uniform gleaming white. The immature birds resemble her, 

 but have a sprinkling of white on their foreheads during 

 the first winter. Twenty years ago the Tufted-Duck was 

 chiefly a winter visitor to the British Isles, being at that 

 season common on most of our estuaries and larger inland 

 waters, but less so on the open coast. It remained to 

 breed in some numbers on a few lakes and smaller waters, 

 notably some Nottinghamshire ponds. Since that time, 

 however, it has increased to an astonishing extent as a 

 British-breeding species, and it may now be said of many 

 areas that a few pairs nest on eveiy suitable stretch of 

 \\ater. 



The nest is always near fresh-water, and is usually where 

 plenty of cover is to be had. It may be placed under a 

 bush, but is more often in the heart of a big clump of 

 rank grass or other herbage. More exposed situations are 

 uncommon. The eggs vary in number from eight to 

 thirteen. They vary from stone-colour to greenish brown, 

 and are laid late in May or early in June, as a rule. 

 The down is composed of rather small filaments, chocolate 

 brown in colour, with very indistinct paler centres. The 

 chicks in down are brown above and buff-coloured below. 

 There are indistinct eye-streaks, and paler patches, one on 

 each side, on the lower back. 



The food of this species consists of both animal and 

 vegetable matter, which is obtained from the bottom by 

 diving. Twenty seconds is the usual period of immersion 

 at ordinary depths. Considerable depths can, however, be 

 reached if necessary, as is shown by the fact that Tufted- 

 Ducks and Pochards are caught in nets sunk in Loch Neash 



