70 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



not more than twelve or fourteen inches to travel 

 from the edge of her nest into deep w^ater. 



Materials. — Enshes, sedges, reeds, and grass, 

 with an inner lining of down tufts plucked from 

 the bird's own body. These are greyish-black, 

 smaller and a trifle darker than those of the 

 Pochard, with more obscure white centres. 



Eggs. — Eight to fourteen, usually nine or ten. 

 Pale buff tinged with green. Yery similar to those 

 of the Pochard. Size about 2*3 by 1'6 in. 



Time. — May and June. 



BemarJiS.- — A winter visitor, though numbers stay 

 to breed. Notes : call, curriigJi, curnigh, uttered on 

 alighting. Local and other names : Tufted Pochard. 

 Sits closely. 



DUCK, WILD. Also Mallard. 



Description of Paicitt Birds. — Length about 

 twenty-four inches. Bill of medium length, broad, 

 and yellowish-green. Irides hazel. Head and 

 upper half of neck rich glossy green, below which 

 is a narrow collar of white, succeeded by greyish 

 chestnut-brown ; back brown ; wings ash-brown, 

 with a broad transverse bar of reflecting purplish- 

 or violet-blue, bounded on either side by a narrow 

 bar of rich black, and another beyond of white. 

 Eump, upper tail-coverts, and four middle tail- 

 feathers, w^hich are curled upwards, rich velvet- 

 black, the rest ash-grey edged with white. Upper 

 part of breast rich dark chestnut ; lower breast, 

 belly, and vent greyish- white ; under tail- coverts 

 rich black. Legs, toes, and webs orange-yellow. 



The female is about two inches shorter, and 

 her plumage is nearly all composed of sober brown 

 and black. She retains the rich bar of violet- or 



