348 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



flanks, vents, and lower tail-coverts white ; legs, 

 toes, and webs flesh-colour. 



The female is rather smaller and duller in colour. 



Situation and Locality. 'Rabbit burrows are 

 the favourite haunts of this bird, although it is said 

 sometimes to dig its own burrow or adopt that of 

 a fox or badger ; holes under rocks and ruins at 

 various depths, sometimes four or five feet in, at 

 others as many as twelve. In low sand-hills and 

 dunes at various suitable places on the east and 

 west coasts, such as Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, 

 Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland, Lancashire, 

 and Cheshire ; in Wales ; on various parts of the 

 coast of Scotland, Orkney Islands, Hebrides, and 

 Ireland. Our illustration was obtained in the 

 Hebrides. 



Materials. Dry grass, bents, and down from 

 the bird's own body. The tufts are lavender-grey, 

 mixed with a few white ones. 



Eggs. 'Six to sixteen, generally ten to twelve ; 

 white, slightly tinged with cream colour. Size about 

 2.7 by 1.9 in. Nest distinguished by down-tufts. 



Time. April, May, and June. 



Remarks. 'Resident. Notes : male call, a deep 

 korr-korr ; female, a loud quack. Local and other 

 names : Sly Goose, Bargander, Burgander, Burrow 

 Duck, Skeeling Goose, Common Shieldrake, Skel- 

 goose. The nest is very difficult to find ; but a 

 good way to accomplish this is to look out for 

 footprints in the sand at the entrance to likely 

 holes, also to watch the movements of the male 

 during flight, and any suspected hole morning and 

 evening when the birds leave and enter. I have 

 generally been astir at three o'clock in the morning 

 for that purpose, and the subject of our picture 



