268 THE DIVING DUCKS 



of courtship. The more common display is to blow the neck out 

 with air with the head raised horizontally, and utter the groan as the 

 air is released. During this show a distinct ' kink ' is to be observed 

 in the lower part of the neck, while the centre is unusually swollen. 

 The fullest display is usually performed as the male approaches the 

 female. The male then lies very flat on the water and stretches the 

 head and neck to the fullest extent, at the same time blowing out the 

 neck and frequently turning the head on one side, so as to display its 

 full beauty. During these moments of intense excitement the pupil 

 of the eye of the male nearly disappears, and the eye itself seems 

 to blaze a very rich lacquer red." 



Once paired the sexes are inseparable, except for short periods 

 under stress of severe weather, and haunt the spot where they 

 decide to nest. As already described, the nest is generally 

 built in the water, often among the dead stalks of flags or reeds 

 of the previous summer, and bears a curious likeness to that of the 

 coot, before the down is added. In some cases, even when the 

 eggs are highly incubated, there is hardly any down. The duck 

 does not seem to object to the company of other birds, and it is not 

 uncommon to find a nest surrounded by a noisy colony of black- 

 headed-gulls. During the period of incubation the male remains 

 in the neighbourhood of the nest, but of course takes no share in 

 the work. Naumann gives a lifelike description of the cautious 

 way in which the duck approaches the nest during the laying 

 period. First of all the pair come flying past, keeping a careful 

 lookout, and settle with a splash on the open water some little dis- 

 tance away. Here both birds remain for some time motionless, with 

 outstretched necks, on the alert for the slightest sign of danger, and 

 then, if all remains quiet, the duck begins to swim cautiously towards 

 the nest, keeping her head down, and taking advantage of any cover 

 that may exist. In the case of a bird which hatched out young in 

 confinement, she was observed to leave the nest about three times a 

 week in order to wash and feed : at these times she was very ravenous, 



