366 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



pressed between its bill and its breast. 

 In many places the natives take advantage 

 of this choice of a nesting-site and put up 

 boxes with small entrance-holes in the 

 side. It is glad enough to avail itself of 

 these convenient situations, but generally 

 pays the penalty of its trustfulness by 

 having its eggs robbed by the hard-hearted 

 peasants. To rob a nest for the sake of 

 a museum that may give pleasure to 

 hundreds of students for scores of years 

 is one thing, but to do so for sport or food 

 is another. Where a hollow tree-trunk 

 cannot be found a hollow branch is often 

 selected, and in some parts of Germany, 

 where the forests are too well farmed 

 to admit of the existence of hollow 

 trees, the Golden-eye, according to Nau- 

 mann, breeds on the top of pollard 

 willows or even amongst the reeds on the 

 ground." 



Referring to the nesting-boxes which 

 the peasants of Northern Europe hang up 

 for these Ducks to nest in, Mr. Dresser 

 remarks : — " These are frequently hung 

 up close to the peasants' huts ; and even 

 then the Golden-eye will nest in them. 

 The bottom of the hollow tree or nest- 

 box is neatly lined by the old bird with 

 down, and on this soft bed the eggs. 



