IIo Notes on the Bivds which Inhabit Scotton Common. 
have found four of these breeding there. To judge from the 
number of drakes seen about in parties during April, when the 
ducks should be sitting, I should say that at least twenty pairs of 
Mallard breed near the gull-ponds, and perhaps an equal 
number of Teal. ‘The pretty whistling notes of the drakes of 
this latter species may often be heard in the Spring, and I have 
more than once come across a duck teal and her brood of tiny 
ducklings amid the rank heather. Toward the end of March 
about a dozen pairs of Shovelers arrive on the ponds to 
breed, the drakes being in very handsome plumage at that time. 
The birds begin to sit during the latter half of April, and I have 
several times come across their nests very well concealed in 
tufts of dry grass or rushes. ‘The female when leaving her eggs 
sometimes tries the *‘ broken wing trick” in order to draw away 
the discoverer of her nest. During late Summer and Autumn 
large flights of ducks consisting of young and old of these three 
species may be seen about the common, made up largely of home 
bred birds. At this season the drakes are in the “eclipse” or 
’ 
“brown” stage of plumage. In Winter I fancy many of the 
birds spread over the flooded lands in the vale of the River Trent, 
being joined doubtless by many migrants from the Continent of 
Europe. In April three or four pairs of Sheld-dueks usually 
appear on the ponds and much chattering and squabbling takes 
place. Not more than one or perhaps two pairs remain to breed. 
The eggs are laid at the end of a burrow in the sand among the 
heather, and the young are hatched out about the middle of June. 
On June 22nd, 1903, I saw a pair with four ducklings of a few days 
old on one of the ponds. ‘These latter were exceedingly active 
little creatures, diving very cleverly and staying a long time 
beneath the water. I caught one of them with great difficulty, 
and on being released it immediately dived, and Icould watch it 
for some time travelling at a good pace not far below the surface, 
and paddling vigorously with its webbed feet. The parent birds 
showed great anxiety until I had moved away, the female being 
particularly demonstrative and flying close up to me while I was 
standing in the water. 
Wigeon and Poehard also inhabit the ponds but | have 
