112 LAKES AND RIVERS. 



composed of grass, mixed with the down of the bird, 

 and was placed in the centre of a furze-bush, by 

 which it was sheltered. Two or three weeks after 

 this a second nest was found at a short distance from 

 the spot from which the other had been taken. It 

 was constructed of the same materials, was situated 

 similarly, and contained ten eggs ; these were quite 

 fresh, and led us to suppose that they belor ged to 

 the same bird which had been previously deprived of 

 its eggs." 



The Gad well (Anas strcperd) is a winter visitor 

 to our inland lakes. It is about 19 inches long, 

 and 33 inches in expanse of wings ; it is marked 

 with exceedingly minute bands on the head and 

 neck of a crescent form on a gray ground, the 

 scapulars and flanks with zigzag lines of black and 

 white. 



The Common Wild Duck (Anas boschas), believed 

 to be the source of most of our domestic breeds, 

 which, like those of Gallinaceous birds and pigeons, 

 are subject to an almost endless variety of colour and 

 form of plumage. The nest is usually found on the 

 banks of a stream or lake, sometimes on the ground, 

 at other times on the top of a bush or tree. Mr. 

 Tuke met with it 20 feet above the ground; Mr. 

 Tunstall, 25 feet from the ground; Mr. Selby, in 

 the nest of a crow, at least 30 feet from the ground. 

 The nest is round, and is lined with white down, 

 the exterior being made of dry grass. Its diameter 

 inside is about- 6 inches, but the down is 3 inches 

 thick. The eggs are about eleven in number. 



The Pintail Duck (Anas acutd) is another winter 



