The True Ducks. 267 



or partridges' eggs in their nests; many 

 such instances have come under my 

 observation, and I have frequently heard 

 of others. The partridge occasionally 

 makes use of the comfortable nest of the 

 duck as a receptacle for its eggs, but not, 

 I believe, so frequently as the pheasant. 

 When the proud mother marshals her 

 young ones, to conduct them to the water, 

 great must be her surprise at the ugly 

 ducklings which form part of her brood. 



*' Wild ducks frequently depart from 

 their usual habit of nesting on the ground 

 and make use of trees for the purpose. 

 Instances are known where ducks' nests 

 have been found twenty feet from the 

 ground. In many cases the deserted 

 nests of wood-pigeons are made use of; 

 and a nest of the wild duck has actually 

 been discovered in some ivy on the top 

 of a wall." 



In Kashmir the Wild Duck breeds jin 

 large numbers, laying in May and the 

 beginning of June. It constructs its nest 

 on the ground on the margins of lakes, or 

 even in rice -fields, under an overhanging 

 tuft of grass or rushes. The nest is com- 

 posed of dry grass and flag, and after the 

 eggs are laid it is lined with down. The 

 number of eggs varies from eight to twelve. 



