214 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



parts darker, and nnder-parts dull greyish- white, 

 clouded with brown ; under tail-coverts dusky grey. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground, in tufts 

 of rushes, coarse grass, in osier beds ; amongst 

 flags and sedges growing on the shores of lakes, 

 broads, and tarns, in the North, East, and South 

 of England ; also in Scotland and Ireland. Our 

 illustration was procured in Norfolk. The nest 

 was situated amongst the reeds on the right-hand 

 side of the picture opposite. 



Materials. Sedges, rushes, and dry grass, with 

 an inner lining of down. The tufts are brownish- 

 grey with whitish centres. 



Eggs. Seven to ten, occasionally as many as 

 thirteen or fourteen. Pale greyish-buff or greenish- 

 drab. Size about 2*35 by 1*7 in. Distinguished 

 from the Tufted Duck only by the browner colour 

 of the down-tufts. 



Time. May. 



Remarks. Resident and migratory, being more 

 numerous in winter. Notes, a low whistle, but 

 when alarmed or vexed, a hoarse kind of croak, like 

 Jcr-Jir-JiT. Local and other names : Eed-headed 

 Wigeon, Duncur, Red-headed Poker, Dunbird, Vare- 

 headed Wigeon, Attile Duck, Blue Poker, Great- 

 headed Wigeon. Sits closely. 



PTARMIGAN. 



Description of Parent Birds. Length fifteen 

 inches. Bill short, strong, curved downwards, and 

 black. Irides hazel. Over the eye is a piece of 

 erectile skin of a bright red colour. Head and 

 neck barred and mottled with black, rusty brown, 

 and white or grey ; back and upper tail-coverts 



