124 ANATID^E 



then crouching low, or better still, lying flat on one's chest, 

 several groups of these birds may be observed scattered on 

 the . water. Some are perhaps asleep, their heads turned 

 round on their backs, the dumpy little creatures resembling 

 balls of black and white, but the majority will probably be 

 feeding, every now and then disappearing under the surface. 

 Should one wait a little time longer in silence the birds will, 

 in all likelihood, approach closer to the water's brink. Now, 

 even without a field-glass, the adult male with dark glossy 

 back and neck, crested head, white flanks and bright yellow 

 eyes, can readily be detected. 



When suspicious of danger, it swims so low in the 

 water that its white sides cannot be seen. On salt-water 

 inlets it might be mistaken in the distance for a Scoter, 

 from which, however, it may be distinguished by its smaller 

 size, and by the fact that unlike the Scoter it never 

 assembles in immense flocks ; moreover, the Scoter, being 

 exclusively marine in its habits, is often found weathering 

 the gale far out at sea. 



At times the Tufted Duck will associate with other 

 species, especially about the mouths of large rivers, where 

 food and consequently bird-life is abundant. I have seen 

 small parties in company with Golden-eyes at the estuary 

 of the River Liffey, Dublin, the birds quietly floating down 

 the tide in single file. Prior to the spring-migration, I 

 have noticed Tufted Ducks on the water in company with 

 many other species, frequently with Mergansers. 



Food. This Duck seeks its food chiefly in the morning 

 and evening ; it may be seen sleeping during the day 1 on 

 ornamental waters. Descending to a considerable depth in 

 quest of food shell-fish, aquatic insects, and vegetables it 

 has been taken in nets lying fifteen fathoms deep on Lough 

 Neagh (Ussher). 



Voice. The voice is guttural in character, the call-note 

 sounding like curragh-curragh-curragh (Whitaker). 



Nest The Tufted Duck breeds on the ground and 

 generally near water, concealing its nest in grass-tufts and 

 other available herbage. Mr. Ussher states that he has 

 " seen nine nests, each in the centre of a large clump of 

 rushes on a high grassy peninsula, with cattle, sheep, and 

 horses, grazing between the nests." The eggs, eight to 



1 A habit also common to the Pochard and Golden-eye. 



