ANATIDJE. 229 



species is a summer visitant to this country, and is by some 

 writers called the Summer Teal. In Scotland and Ireland 

 it is little known, but a few pairs are said to breed in Eng- 

 land. The nest is described as composed of rushes and 

 dried grass, with down; and as being placed on the ground 

 in swampy situations, and among the rushes and coarse 

 herbage in marshes and on the borders of inland waters 

 and rivers. The eggs, from eight to ten in number, are 

 of a cream-colour or buff-white. 



THE BIMACULATED DUCK. Boschas glocitans. On a few 

 occasions this bird has been taken in Britain, but we have 

 little information respecting its habits. 



THE COMMON PINTAIL. Dafila caudacuta. It is chiefly 

 during the winter that this beautiful duck occurs in this 

 country. It is a species also generally distributed in Eu- 

 rope, extends to Asia, and is noticed by Wilson and Au- 

 dubon as American. It breeds in high northern latitudes, 

 advancing southward in the winter, and returning to its 

 breeding stations in the spring. Like most other Ducks it 

 makes its nest among the thick herbage near the margin, or 

 within a short distance of fresh water. The nest is com- 

 posed of grass and reeds, lined with a small quantity of 

 down, and contains from six to eight eggs of a dull greenish- 

 white colour. 



