EGGS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 83 
small shells used when a rocky place instead of a sandy 
beach has been chosen for breeding upon. Its nest is 
generally well above high-water mark, amongst fine sand, 
shingle, or on bare rock round our coast, and on the shores 
of inland sheets of water. The eggs number four, and 
vary from pale buff to stone or cream colour, spotted and 
speckled all over with small brownish-black and under- 
lying inky-grey marks. 
THE MANX SHEARWATER. 
Tur Manx Shearwater brecds on the western coasts of 
England and Scotland, in the Hebrides and islands to the 
north of Scotland; also in several parts of the Irish coast 
and the off-lying islands. Its nest is situated at the end 
of a deep burrow, which is generally dug by the bird itself. 
Some observers have reported it -to consist of bits of grass 
and stalks, and others have found no attempt at all at 
nest-building in some of the burrows they have opened. It 
lays a single white, smooth egg. 
THE PINTAIL DUCK. 
Tus uncommon Duck breeds in one or two parts of Ireland 
and Scotland still, it is said on good authority. Its nest 
consists of rushes, sedge, dead grass, and tufts of dark 
brown down bearing white tips, and is placed amongst 
rushes and such other coarse vegetation as will afford the 
bird shelter. The eggs number from six to eight, or even 
ten, of a pale buff colour tinged with green. 
