288 THE SAWBILLED-DUCKS 



31st October (cf. Clarke, Studies in Bird Migration, 1912, vol. i. p. 160). The 

 east of Great Britain is the most favoured region in winter, but in Yorkshire its 

 numbers are variable (adult males uncommon except in hard seasons), and in 

 the extreme south it is only seen at long intervals (cf. Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, 

 p. 482 ; and Ticehurst, B. of Kent, 1909, p. 373). In the northern and western 

 Scottish isles the goosander. is rare at any season, but in Dumfriesshire it is well 

 known in winter, and in North Wales it is then not uncommon (cf. Saunders, 

 III. Man. Brit. B., 2nd ed., 1899, p. 471 ; Gladstone, B. of Dumfries., 1910, p. 296 ; 

 and Forrest, Fauna of N. Wales, 1907, p. 296). It is a scarce winter visitor to most 

 parts of Ireland, but unknown in Western Connaught: it rarely appears before 

 December and is commonest in January: in hard winters it is commoner than in 

 others (cf. Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 1900, p. 217). Occurs singly or in 

 pairs or small flocks : visits both estuaries and inland waters. [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. Nesting-sites of this species vary considerably: some 

 nests are placed in hollow trees, others in holes of the peaty banks or among boulders 

 by river-sides, occasionally in a natural hollow on a steep, wooded hillside, and 

 when other sites fail, in a hollow cavity on open ground, sometimes under shelter of 

 scrub. More exceptionally it has been recorded as nesting in a deserted peasant's 

 hut, in holes of buildings, nest-boxes, and, it is said, in the deserted nests of 

 raptorial birds. The female sometimes collects a little withered grass before 

 adding down, unless the nest is in a tree, when the eggs are laid on the chips of 

 rotten wood. (PI. LXIX.) The eggs are pale creamy or yellowish hi colour, and 

 are very close grained and smooth in texture, ranging as a rule from 7 to 12 in 

 number, occasionally 13 or 15, but if they are regularly removed as many as 

 25 or 30 may be laid. 1 The down, as in the case of other hole-breeding ducks, 

 is very light hi colour, a light pearly grey, not unlike that of the shelduck, 

 but not quite so large. The feathers, however, are unmistakable, as they lack 

 the chesnut or black tip which is found hi those of the shelduck (PI. U. Cf. 

 Brit. Birds, ii., pi. 2, fig. 17), and have a creamy or yellowish tinge. Average size 

 of 100 eggs, 2-69 x 1-85 in. [68-4 x 47-1 mm.]. (PI. S.) Incubation is performed by 

 the duck alone, and is estimated at 28 days (Tiedemann, Hantzsch). The breeding 

 season hi Scotland falls early, and full clutches of fresh eggs may be obtained hi 

 the last two weeks of April. In Northern Europe the time is naturally later, and 

 in Iceland they are usually laid during the first half of June, and may be found 

 early in June in Lapland. Only one brood is reared in the season. [F. o. R. J.] 

 1 So-called clutches of from 19 to 36 eggs are probably produced by more than one duck. 



