NYROCA NYROCA NYROCA -IC'd 



to be a sort of subsidiary lining composed of grasses and weeds fiueL- 

 than are used in the body of the nest. This characteristic of the nest 

 is rather marked in contrast to the majority of other ducks' nests, but 

 it is well authenticated and worthy of notice. 



Where the birds are most numerous, several nests may be found 

 in close proximity to one another ; and as the birds are close sitters, 

 finding them is a matter of little difficulty. 



In Kashmir the first few birds breed in the end of April, but not 

 many till the beginning of -Tune ; and it was in this month that the 

 regular trade in their eggs used to commence. They appear to lay 

 from six to ten eggs, possibly one or two more occasionally ; but such 

 occasions cannot be frequent, as Hume's collectors never succeeded in 

 finding more than ten. 



In the basin of the [Mediterranean they would seem sometimes to 

 place their nests in cover, some little distance from the water, for 

 Lord Lilford, who found its nest in Southern Spain, writes : — 



We obtained a nest of nine eggs, from wliieli I shot the female 

 bird. The nest was at a short distance from the water, in high 

 rushes, and was composed of dead dry water-plants, flags, etc., and 

 lined with thick brownish-white down and a few white feathers." 



In Eastern Europe, also, it is said to sometimes lay twelve eggs, 

 and I have one record from Turkey of fourteen eggs having been 

 laid in a nest. This nest also, I may add. was placed a considerable 

 distance from water, in amongst bushes. The colour of the egg varies 

 from pale drab to a quite deep cafv-au-lait, the latter colour, if dark, 

 being unusual. In a few eggs there is a faint yellow or greenish 

 tinge ; but the greatly predominating tint is a brown or cafi-au-lait, 

 and nine out of ten will be found to be of this colour. 



The shape is, as a rule, rather a long oval, very regular, and it 

 varies but little. Hume says : — 



" They are commonly very regular and perfect ovals, moderately 

 broad, as a rule, but occasionally considerably elongated and slightly 

 compressed towards one end." 



In my series I have no eggs thus compressed ; all are just about 

 the same at either end. The texture is fine and close, but dis- 

 tinctly more porous than the average duck's egg : and the eggs, in 

 consequence, are very liable to discolouration. The surface is 

 smooth, but has no gloss. 



