312 OUR RARER BIRDS 



that yearning for Duck's flesh which is such a characteristic 

 of our own sly reynard. At the bottom of the hole, which 

 is often winding, and extends six feet or more, the nest is 

 formed. As may be conjectured it is not an elaborate 

 structure, being but a few straws and dried grasses, lined 

 with the soft gray down from the old bird's body. The eggs 

 are from six to twelve in number, creamy-white, with a 

 reddish tinge before they are blown. Their extreme fragility 

 demands the most careful usage, the shell being thin and 

 brittle and possessing a considerable amount of gloss. The 

 Sheldrake's nest is one of the most difficult to find the best 

 plan being to watch the ducks at morning and evening, when 

 the sitting- bird is relieved by its mate. The male is 

 rarely seen near the nest, except when about to take his 

 turn upon the eggs ; and during the whole period of incuba- 

 tion the birds do little to betray the whereabouts of their 

 home. Another very interesting feature in the economy of 

 the Sheldrake is the fact that the male bird assists in 

 hatching the eggs. Now in all our Ducks where the sexes 

 are different in colour, as is the case with the Wild Duck, 

 for instance, the female is entrusted with the entire care of 

 the eggs. With the Sheldrake, however, the case is different, 

 the male bird assisting in incubation simply because his con- 

 spicuous plumage is effectually hidden from view. 



There is another matter worthy of our notice, and which 

 deserves a few passing remarks. The subject to which I 

 allude is the presence of down in the nests of this family of 

 birds. What is its use ? It is popularly believed to afford 

 warmth to the eggs, which is not at all improbable ; but 

 then no end is served by this artificial heat, for the eggs of 

 the Sheldrake and of all other Ducks will hatch just as safely 

 and surely in a nest containing not a particle of down. The 

 presence of down in the nests of the Ducks is evidently for 

 purposes of concealment ; and the fact that it is found in the 



