94 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



remain nameless, there was very little material 

 beyond dead grass and down. 



Eggs. Six to ten, usually seven or eight, 

 smooth, rather elongated, and " greenish- white/' 

 according to Mr. Saunders, and " pale bumsh- 

 green," according to Mr. Dixon, in colour. The 

 eggs in the four nests which I examined varied 

 from greenish-grey to drab-grey. Size about 2.15 

 by 1.55 in. 



Time. May. 



Remarks. Migratory as a rule, wintering with 

 us and spending the summer in Iceland. It is 

 probable that the few staying to breed in our 

 islands have a farther southern range than those 

 from Iceland. Note : a soft inward quack. Local 

 and other names : Winter Duck, Cracker, Sea 

 Pheasant, a name, however, more often applied to 

 the Long-tailed Duck. A fairly close sitter, and has 

 bred repeatedly in confinement. 



DUCK, TUFTED. 



(Fuligula cn'stata.) 

 Order ANSERES ; Family ANATID^: (DUCKS). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 seventeen inches. Bill of medium length, but 

 little broadened towards the point, and bluish-grey 

 with a black tip. Irides rich dark yellow. Head 

 and neck glossy purplish-black. The feathers at 

 the back of the head are narrow and elongated, and 

 form a tuft or crest. Back, rump, wings, and 

 tail black with a white bar running across the 

 secondaries, which are tipped with black. There 

 is a small spot of white on the chin. Breast, belly, 



