BY LAKES AND STREAMS. , 139 



pointed oval in shape, and pale bluish white in 

 colour, although they soon become stained and 

 discoloured by the wet feet of the sitting bird, 

 and by the damp materials with which they are 

 covered every time she leaves them. As soon 

 as the chicks are hatched they take to the water ; 

 and in some cases as many as three broods are 

 reared in succession. 



The Great Crested Grebe is a much more 

 local species, and prefers larger sheets of water, 

 especially the Broads ; and as we have devoted 

 a ramble specially to the bird life of that district 

 we will reserve our observations until then (see 

 p. 197). At least seven species of Ducks, in 

 addition to the Mallard, breed sparingly near our 

 inland waters. Five of them belong to the non- 

 diving Ducks. Of the former the PINTAIL 

 (Anas acuta) breeds sparingly in Ireland (eggs 

 seven to ten, buffish green) ; the WIGEON (A. 

 penelope\ as locally in the Highlands (eggs seven 

 to twelve, buffish white); the GARGANEY (A. circia) 

 in one of our eastern English counties (eggs eight 

 to twelve, yellowish white). The SHOVELLER (A. 

 clypeata) (eggs six to ten, buffish white), and the 

 TEAL (A. crecca) (eggs eight to ten, cream colour, 

 sometimes tinged with green), are more widely 

 dispersed, wherever there are haunts suitable 

 and secluded enough for their requirements. Of 

 the latter or diving Ducks, the POCHARD (Fuligula 

 ferina) (eggs eight to twelve, pale brownish green), 

 and the TUFTED DUCK (F. cristata) (eggs like 

 preceding in number and colour, only trifle 

 smaller), both breed locally in quiet districts where 

 they are protected. In their nesting economy 



