80 BRITISH BIRDS 



Nest. Usually near the sea, in holes, some feet long, either 

 of a rabbit or burrowed by the bird. 

 Occasionally some distance from the 

 sea. Sometimes in holes among rocks 

 or under bushes. Material: the 

 ducks' down and feathers mixed with 

 grasses, moss, &c. Many pairs may 

 nest in close proximity, t 



E99*- Usuall 7 7 ~ 12 Creamy- 

 white. Av. size, 2'57 x 1'84 in. Lay- 

 Fig. 94. ing begins usually in May. One 

 brood. 



162. Mallard or wild-duck [Anas platyrhyncha platyrhyncha 

 Linnaeus ; Anas boscas Linnaeus]. Resident and generally 

 distributed both near salt and fresh water. 



Bird. Length 23 in. Recognised by the glossy steel-blue 

 speculum or wing-spot which is margined laterally with white 

 and black. The drake except from mid-June to mid- 

 September has the head and neck glossy green, with a white 

 ring round the neck. The upcurled middle tail-feathers, the 

 rump and tail-coverts are glossy black-green. Back brownish. 

 Scapulars, lower breast and flanks greyish-white pencilled with 

 fine grey wavy parallel lines or vermiculations. Forebreast a 

 dark chestnut. From mid-June to mid-Sept, the drake assumes 

 the " eclipse " plumage which resembles that of the duck, but 

 with a more uniform coloration on the upper-parts. The duck 

 is dark brown marked buff, and has not the middle tail-feathers 

 upcurled. 



Nest. On the ground, usually near water, and usually in 

 cover of some sort, rushes, long grass, tangled briars and 

 herbage, hedges and the like. Sometimes away from water. 

 Occasionally in trees, faggots, &c. Material : dry grass, moss 

 and other material, lined with the bird's down. 



Eggs. Usually 8-14. Greenish to buffish-grey. Occasionally 

 with a blue tint. Av. size, 2'21 x 1*61 in. Laying begins 

 usually March-April, sometimes earlier and later. One brood. 



163. Shoveler [Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus)]. Resident, but 

 local. Scarce in Wales. Frequents usually fresh water. 



Bird. Length 20 in. Recognised by the large dusky- 

 coloured spatulate beak (see Fig. 95), by the speculum or wing- 

 spot, which is glossy green (duller in the female) bordered in 

 front with a broad and behind with a narrow white stripe 

 and by the wing-coverts, blue in the drake, grey-blue in the 

 duck, in both conspicuous. The drake has the head and neck 

 dark glossy green, followed on the forebreast by white con- 

 tinued upwards round the neck and on to the scapulars. 



