The Stiff-tailed Ducks, 379 



eggs. These are very large for the size of 

 the bird, almost perfectly elliptical in shape, 

 and a hne longer and wider than those 

 of the Velvet Scoter, of an extremely 

 rough texture, unlike that of any other 

 Duck, more resembling the egg of the 

 Bean-Goose, but far more coarsely grained, 

 and of a dull white colour. The habits 

 and flight of the bird are more like those 

 of a Grebe than a Duck ; it often saves 

 itself by diving, and remains under water 

 for a considerable time." 



Writing of Transylvania, Messrs. Dan- 

 ford and Harvie Brown say : — " This 

 curious Duck, which we found in Mezoseg, 

 is not very common. We met with a 

 flock of nine or ten birds at a small reedy 

 lake near Zah ; but, owing to the difficulty 

 of paddling the wretched square-ended 

 canoes or punts {csonak), the only substi- 

 tutes for boats in the country, we found 

 great difficulty in getting near them, and 

 for some days only succeeded in shooting 

 one male, and that at very long range. 

 A couple of days before our departure, 

 however, we were more fortunate ; the 

 birds were tamer, and let us get a number 

 of long shots, by which we killed three 

 more males and a female. They never 

 attempted to leave the lake, but after a 



