66 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



keepers told us the same bird had nested in that 

 situation for seven years in succession, as they 

 were able to identify her by a white spot at the 

 back of her head. 



Materials. --Dry seaweed, heather, or coarse 

 grass, with an inner lining of beautiful soft down 

 from the bird's own body. The down is accumu- 

 lated as the eggs are laid or incubation advances. 

 Individual birds vary in respect to supplying it 

 during the time they are laying, for at the Fame 

 Islands I noticed that whilst some had a fairly 

 liberal supply and only three eggs, others with 

 seven had not a particle. 



Eggs. Five to eight. Pale greyish-green to 

 grey-cream colour, smooth and unspotted. Size 

 about 3-0 by 2-0 in. 



Time. May and June. 



Remarks. Eesident, with a more southern 

 range in winter. Note : a harsh AT, Jcr, kr. Love 

 note of male : ak-oo. Local and other names : St. 

 Cuthbert's Duck, Common Eider, Colk, Dunter 

 Duck. Sits very closely indeed. 



DUCK, PINTAIL. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 twenty-seven inches, several of which are accounted 

 for by the abnormally long tail. Bill moderately 

 long, nearly straight, and dusky-black, leaden-grey 

 on the sides. Irides dark brown. Head and upper 

 part of neck in front, nape, and all back of neck 

 dark reddish-brown. The sides and back of head 

 are glossed with purple. Back, wing shoulders, 

 and parts in front of them, grey; wing tertials 

 elongated, black in the centre, and bordered with 

 white and grey; greater coverts ash-brown tipped 



