204 THE SHELDUCK AND SURFACE-FEEDING DUCKS 



reported from various localities during that and the following whiter. Two were 

 killed hi Holland (22nd October and 22nd November 1907), four in the south- 

 western shires of England (Herefordshire, 5th January; Cornwall, 17th January; 

 and Hampshire, 30th January and 30th December 1908), five in Ireland (Co. 

 Limerick, 10th December 1907 ; Co. Kerry, 31st December 1907 ; Co. Fermanagh, 

 24th February 1908; Queen's Co., 28th February 1908; and Co. Galway, 21st 

 August 1908), eight in Western France (November and December 1907 ; and 

 January, February, and September 1908), one hi Southern Spain (Guadalquivir 

 estuary, 2nd December 1907), and one in Northern Italy (river Po near Parma, 

 4th December 1908) : further, one was recaught at Fano (5th November 1908), 

 and a second on another of the North Frisian islands (Pellworm, 1st October 

 1908), while one was found not far from Stockholm (12th April 1912), giving an 

 indication of the summer quarters of the birds concerned. Of the above cases, 

 that of a teal marked on passage in Denmark in October 1907, and shot hi Co. 

 Galway on 21st August 1908, deserves special attention : the bird may possibly 

 have summered in the British Isles for some reason when shot it was in good 

 condition, but alone. (Cf. Mortensen, Vidensk. MeddeL fra den naturhist. Fore- 

 ning i Kobenhavn, 1908, pp. 127-139). The teal is a gregarious migrant, and often 

 met with hi great numbers: sometimes strikes against the lighthouse lanterns. 

 [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. The nest is frequently found among heather on 

 moorlands, sometimes in a tuft of rushes, under a bush or hi a wood. The hollow 

 is scantily lined with dead leaves, grasses, etc., by the duck, and freely lined with 

 down as incubation proceeds. (PI. LXVII.) The down is dark blackish brown, with 

 light centres, but lacks the white tips characteristic of the garganey. (PI. U.) Nest 

 feathers "light stone colour, with broad dark patches" on each side, "extending 

 nearly to the tip of the feather" (Noble). The eggs are usually 8 to 15 or 16 hi 

 number, smaller than any other of our British-breeding ducks except the garganey, 

 and are pale creamy white with a faint greenish tinge, which is characteristic. 

 Average size of 100 eggs, 1'77 x 1'29 in. [45 x 32'8 mm.]. (PL T.) Incubation is 

 performed by the duck alone, and ends on the 22nd day (W. Evans) : Hantzsch 

 gives 20 days from the last egg, but H. S. Gladstone estimates it at 28 days ! 

 Saunders states that the eggs are usually laid early in May, but nests may fre- 

 quently be found with full clutches during the last fortnight of April in the south 

 of England, and in Northern Europe often not till June. Only one brood is 

 reared during the season normally. [F. o. B. jr.] 



