254 INDIAN DICKS. 



in shape, and in size average about 2'4 Ijv 1*55 inches ; and the down with 

 which the nest is lined is sooty greyish- white, the tips of the down being 

 rather darker than the central portion/' 



It would seem that, in the majority oi: cases, the Golden-eye selects 

 sites by fresh water for breeding-purposes, but they also sometimes breed 

 on or near the coast. 



Gates descriljes the nest-down as pale lavender-grey with paler centres. 



The British Museum eggs vary in length from 2"1 to 2*4 inches, and in 

 breadth between 1".5.5 and 1*75 inches. Gates says that in colour they are 

 greyish-green of different shades. 



I have two clutches of eggs of this duck in my collection, both o£ 

 which I owe to the generosity of Herr Kuschel, of Breslau. The first 

 clutch, which are marked '• Sarepta, Siid-Russland, 4th May, 1889," are 

 the greenest ducks' eggs I have ever seen, quite a vivid stone-green, 

 though the three vary a little, inter se, in brightness of tint and intensity 

 of colour. The surface is very fine and close with an extremely smooth 

 surface, having a strong gloss. The shape of two of these eggs is a very 

 regular broad oval, of the third a narrow^er oval with one end decidedly 

 compressed and smaller than the other, but not at all pointed. 



These three eggs measure 2'21 by 1*6 inches, 2*20 by 1'72, and 2*12 

 byl-G2. 



The other three eggs are similar, but less intensely green. 



Morris says : — " The Golden-eye builds in the vicinity of lakes and 

 rivers, giving a preference to the latter, particularly such as flow over falls 

 and rapids. The Laplanders place boxes with holes in tliem in the trees 

 in these localities for the birds to build in, and thus procure the eggs, for 

 the boxes are sure to l)e resorted to for the purpose of laying in. 



"The nest is made of rushes and other herbage lined with down. 

 Mr. Hevvitson found one in a hole in a tree, ten or twelve feet from the 

 ground. 



" The eggs are of a greenish hue, and from ten to fourteen in number." 



The egg depicted by Morris, however, is of a greenish stone-coloui-, 

 the green tint by no means very })romin('nt. It is also more pointed at the 

 smaller end than in anv eoo- I have ever seen. 



