THE SCOTERS 285 



hidden, also between the high grass tussocks on Heno Islands in 

 Russian Lapland. One nest was found in the open, and this was 

 partly sheltered by a patch of dwarf sallow, some ten inches high, and 

 another, found by Mr. C. E. Pearson, was in a clump of marram grass 

 on sandhills. The nest hollow is lined with a few grasses, dead leaves, 

 etc., and most of the down is a dull brown, with small indistinct light 

 centres, intermixed with a small quantity of light-coloured down. 

 The feathers are figured by Mr. Noble in British Birds, ii., pi. 2, figs. 15, 

 16. The eggs are larger than those of the common-scoter, and have a 

 beautiful rosy or apricot coloured flush when fresh, fading to a warm 

 creamy white. Average size of 90 eggs, 2'78 x 1'88 in. [70*8 x 47 '9 mm.]. 

 They are usually from 5 or 6 to 8 or 9 in number, but clutches 

 of 10 and 11 have been recorded. The breeding season is late, and 

 full clutches are rarely found before the end of May, generally not 

 till the latter half of June, and sometimes in July. As with the 

 other ducks, the whole duty of incubation falls to the female, the 

 drakes meantime assembling on the water in the neighbourhood. 

 But the domestic history of this species has yet to be written. 



One habit which has been observed in the case of most of the 

 ducks, and which deserves a few words, is that of discharging evil- 

 smelling excrement over the eggs and nest when suddenly flushed. 

 In some species this is of a very offensive character, and it has been 

 surmised that it might possibly be of use in deterring predatory 

 animals from devouring the eggs. It is curious that while the 

 unprotected eiders both in Northern Europe and on our British 

 coasts usually do this, the semi-domesticated birds at the Iceland 

 colonies may be turned off the nest by scores without its taking place 

 once. Personally I am inclined to think that it is not an involuntary 

 action, for on one occasion when an eider-duck was flushed from an 

 isolated nest in Scotland without any discharge, the eggs proved on 

 examination to be all chipped by the young birds. In the case of the 

 protected colonies, the birds have found the precaution unnecessary, 

 and in consequence the habit is in abeyance. 

 VOL. iv. 2o 



