BOOS AND EGG-COLLECTING. 76 



ground, and is met with only in the pine forests of Scot- 

 land. It is composed of grass, moss, wool, fur, and feathers. 

 The eggs number four to seven or eight, and are white in 

 ground colour, freckled and spotted with reddish-brown, 

 generally forming a belt round the large end. 



THE GADWALL. 



THIS bird is only known to nest in one or two places in 

 Norfolk. It has been my pleasure to examine two nests 

 one situated amongst rough, dead grass, and the other in a 

 tuft of rushes in each case quite close to the water. The 

 nest is made of dry grass, rushes, or withered leaves, and 

 lined with beautiful soft down. From eight to twelve or 

 thirteen creamy-white eggs are laid. 



THE TUFTED DUCK. 



THIS member of the Duck family selects the neatest and 

 best concealed situation of all. It is generally well 

 hidden in a tussock of rushes growing in or close to the 

 water of a mere or pond. The nest is made of dead rushes, 

 grass, or reeds, and is lined with small dark pieces of 

 down, with whitish centres. The eggs are light greenish- 

 buff in colour, and number from eight to ten, or even 

 thirteen. They are very similar to those of the Pochard, 

 but the down tufts in the nest are darker. 



THE STONE CURLEW. 



FOUND on stony, arable land, commons, and rough, bare 

 pastures. I have watched the bird through my binoculars, 



