174 INDIAN J)UCKS. 



and such-like lumped together in a mass, with a depi'ession in the centre 

 containing a little down. 



In Finland, Dresser found the nest placed uiuhn- hushes or in tufts of 

 grass, and often at some distance from the water. 



Leoire's note on the nestino- of this Teal is so comijlete yet short that I 

 reproduce it. He writes : — " This species breeds in May and June, 

 resorting to extensive marshes, heaths near water, and large peat-bogs. 

 The nest is made on the ground among grass or rushes or in thick 

 heather, in which latter case it is placed sometimes in the middle of a 

 clump, and so entirely concealed from view that the bird cannot be seen on 

 its nest. The nest is made of dead tlags, rushes, grass, reeds, <kc., with a 

 capacious interior, which is amply lined with down plucked from the bird's 

 l)reast. The number of eggs varies from 8 to 14, and occasionally as 

 many as 20 have been found in a nest ; they are small for the size of the 

 bird, oval, but slightly more obtuse at one end than the other, of a uniform 

 creamy-white or pale buif. There is a greenish variety sometimes found, 

 very like the Pintail's eggs. A series before me from the Petchora, taken 

 by Mr. Seebohm, varies in length from 1'58 to 1*7 inch, and in breadth 

 from I'lG to 1'27. The old birds are said to manifest great affection for 

 their young. Macgillivray relates an instance of his finding a brood of 

 young with their mother on a road ; and when he took them up to put them 

 to a pond close by, whither he thought the old bird was leading them, she 

 followed him. fluttering round him within reach of his whip. 



"■ The ' nest-down ' is dark brown, with pale whitish centres, but no 

 pale tippings." 



It is said to be a resident in Egypt according to IViptain Shelley and 

 von Heuglin, and to be very plentiful there. 



I have two clutches of eggs which seem to average a great deal larger 

 than most. The two clutches, twelve eggs, average 1'7(5 by I'ol inches, 

 the longest being 1*83 and the broadest 1*32. In sha})e they are broad 

 ovals, very regular, yet all })erceptibly smaller at one end than at the 

 other. A few eggs are rather longer comparatively, and these generally 

 have the smaller end rather more compressed. The texture is fine, close, 

 and smooth, and in some cases has a faint gloss. All my eggs are a ])ale 

 buff, and vary hardly at all in de[»th of colouring. 



