PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 255 



in Kent (cf. Gladstone, B. of Dumfries., 1910, p. 290 ; Forrest, Fauna of N. Wales, 

 1907, p. 290 ; Nelson, B. of YorTcs., 1907, p. 472 ; and Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, 

 p. 367). Gregarious ; not ordinarily occurring on inland waters. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. As a rule the nest is found in the neighbourhood of 

 lakes or rivers ; in Iceland often in the islets in the rivers and lakes ; while in Siberia 

 it is frequently met with in the marshes, sheltered by dwarf willows. The nest 

 hollow is lined by the duck with sooty brown down, not so dark as that of the 

 scaup or scoter, showing dull white spots, and sometimes contains a few stalks and 

 leaves, and the eggs usually vary from 5 or 6 to 9, and exceptionally 10 in number. 

 The nest feathers are sometimes white, with brown edges, while others are brownish. 

 They are elliptical or blunt oval in shape, rather glossy, and vary in colour from 

 light greyish green or bluish green to buff or brownish. Average size of 100 eggs, 

 2-11 x 1-51 in. [53-6x38-6 mm.]. (PL T.) The first eggs are to be found about 

 the end of May or early in June, and in Northern Russia and Asia Seebohm found 

 clutches early in July, but incubation is general hi Iceland about mid-June. 

 Incubation is performed by the duck alone, and Hantzsch estimates the period at 

 about three and a half weeks. Only a single brood is reared during the season. 

 [F. c. B. J.] 



5. Food. During the winter months this bird is almost entirely a marine 

 species, and lives principally on marine Mollusca, often obtained by diving to con- 

 siderable depths. The chief food consists of mussels, Mytilus edulis, and cockles, 

 Cardium edule, but Tellina cornea and other species are also eaten, and, according to 

 Naumann, specimens of shell-fish up to about one inch in length are swallowed 

 whole. In the Shetlands Saxby found that they fed almost entirely on periwinkles. 

 Small crustaceans are also eaten, and the fry of various fish, e.g. Pleuronectes, Gadus 

 collaris, etc. ; rarely worms and insects, but frequently the seeds, buds, and roots 

 of various water-plants (Naumann). A. C. Chapman has known it to devour grain 

 from a wrecked ship. During the breeding season hi Iceland it feeds chiefly on the 

 various fresh-water Mollusca which inhabit the lakes, as well as larvae of aquatic 

 insects, and generally also some vegetable matter (H. H. Slater). Scandinavian speci- 

 mens shot in July were also found to have been feeding almost entirely on aquatic 

 insects (Dann). In specimens from Bear Island, Le Roi found remains of bivalves, 

 also roots, moss, and especially algse. Swenander records Gammaridce, mussels, 

 Pteropoda, Polynoidce, and larvae of Diptera; and Cordeaux has found small specimens 

 of Buccinium, as well as Patella pellucida. Gray records Venus ovata, Lacuna vincta, 

 young Mytilus edulis, and once the crustacean Idotea tricuspidata. The young are 



