PRELIMINARY CLASSIFIED NOTES 331 



3. Migration. Formerly a well-known resident, but the recent breeding 

 record from Norfolk is the first for several decades, and the species is now chiefly 

 a cold-weather visitor in small numbers to the British Isles. It is an uncommon 

 winter visitor to Yorkshire, sometimes numerous in severe weather, and also recorded 

 from the coast in autumn (cf. Nelson, B. of Yorks., 1907, p. 399). It is of variable 

 occurrence in Kent, but one or two are recorded nearly every winter ; while in North 

 Wales it is not infrequent, especially in January and February (cf. Ticehurst, B. of 

 Kent, 1909, p. 316 ; and Forrest, Fauna of N. Wales, 1907, p. 259). It has been 

 recorded even from the outlying islands of Scotland, but is altogether rarer in that 

 country (cf. Saunders, III. Man. Brit. B., 2nd ed., 1899, p. 383). It probably visits 

 Ireland annually, but is only irregularly recorded : the occurrences extend from 

 August to March, but are notably for the months of December and January, and for 

 the counties of Cork, Waterford, and Down (cf. Ussher and Warren, B. of Ireland, 

 1900, pp. 167-8). Not always solitary : four together, and even " flocks," have been 

 recorded in this country (cf. Nelson, op. cit., p. 402 ; and Saunders, op. cit., p. 384). 

 Has been recorded from the light-stations (cf. Nelson, loc. cit.). [A. L. T.] 



4. Nest and Eggs. As a rule this species breeds in dense beds of dead 

 reeds or bulrushes, but exceptionally it has been known to nest in a small clump of 

 reeds standing in open water. The nest itself is an artless structure of dead reed- 

 stems, 1 rather flat and small for the size of the bird, only projecting a few inches 

 above the surface of the water. In some cases it is visible when the bird is not 

 sitting as much as twenty or thirty paces away. Mr. Wade is of opinion that the 

 sites are used throughout the year as resting and preening-places till they become 

 padded down, and finally are adopted as foundations for the nest proper. The share 

 of the parents in building has not been ascertained. The eggs are a uniform olive- 

 brown, sometimes with a greenish tinge, without gloss, and vary considerably in 

 shape. (PI. R.) Average size of 65 eggs, 2-09x1-51 in. [53x38-5 mm.]. The 

 number varies from 3 to 6, 2 and they are laid at intervals of some days, while there 

 are considerable differences in the development of the young and the incubation of 

 the eggs, which point to incubation commencing with the laying of the first egg. 

 The incubation period is said to last for about 25 days (Saunders), but Naumann 

 gives 21 to 23 days, and states that incubation is performed by the female alone. 

 The breeding season is somewhat irregular : in Holland, according to Mr. Wade, 

 the average date is about 12th May, but eggs may be found from early April to 



1 A Norfolk nest is said to have been built of large and small rushes. 



2 Nine are recorded as having been found on one occasion in a single nest. 



