THE SCAUP 271 



at least a fortnight, in the last days of April, and several full clutches 

 before the end of that month. 1 Although the tufted-duck does not 

 place its nest as a rule actually in the water like the pochard, it is 

 generally within a few feet of it, as a rule among long grass or rushes 

 or sheltered by bushes, in the midlands and south of England, but 

 often in heather in the north. Mr. A. Chapman, however, states that 

 he has met with instances in which the nest has been at considerable 

 distances from water, but on these Northumbrian moorlands probably 

 the duck would be able to lead the young to some channel in the peat 

 with pools of water in places, by which they could be conveyed to the 

 nearest loch. The young dive almost as soon as they are introduced 

 to the water, and are carefully tended by the duck, who shows great re- 

 luctance to leave them, scuttering along the surface of the water as if 

 unable to fly, and attempting to draw attention from the ducklings. 

 Should this prove unsuccessful, she will return again and again to with- 

 in a few yards. On larger sheets of water the duck shows a distinct 

 tendency on the approach of danger to make for deep water with her 

 young brood, which she gathers closely around her, instead of taking 

 cover in the reedy margins, as is the habit of the surface-feeders. The 

 drake, which was always in attendance while laying was going on, and 

 to a less extent during the earlier stages of incubation, does not take 

 any part in the care of the young, but associates chiefly with other 

 males. 



THE SCAUP 



The scaup belongs to a different category from the two species 

 already treated of. It has a more northerly breeding-range, and 

 though suspected of having nested in Scotland, was not proved to 

 do so till breeding was recorded from the Outer Hebrides from 1897 

 onward, and Captain Sandeman and Mr. H. Noble found a nest in 

 Sutherland in 1899. For practical purposes we may consider it as a 



1 Major Sparrow has also found recently hatched young on 16th May in Kent. 



