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ANAS CRECCA 
were taken on July 7 (Finsch, 1879), and on the Jenesei the last nest was taken 
July 15 (Seebohm, 1879), while on the Wiljui young were taken as early as June 
22 (Maak, 1859). On the Commander Islands the nesting season is, as we should 
expect, earlier, beginning early in Jime (Bianchi, 1909). Bent (1912) took fresh 
eggs in the Aleutians on June 7. 
The nest is by no means always on the banks of ponds, streams or marshes, but 
may be just as often found a good distance back on high ground among heather or 
in wooded situations. It is well constructed, uniform in size, measuring about 24 cm. 
outside and 13 cm. inside diameter (Hantzsch, 1905). The nest-down is darker 
than that of the Garganey and is more characteristic than in many other ducks. 
It has no white tips (but sometimes light-brown tips are indicated) and may be 
described as blackish sepia or light brown, with large conspicuous white bases 
(H. Noble, 1908; A. C. Jackson, 1918; Wormald, in litt.). 
The full clutch varies in number from seven to fifteen, but eight to eleven are the 
usual numbers found, nine perhaps being the average. The eggs are slightly smaller 
than those of the Garganey, and in color are light yellow, sometimes brownish, and 
as a rule with a characteristic greenish tinge. The average measurements of one 
hundred eggs were 44.65 by 32.68 mm., the maximum length and breadth being 
respectively 49.5 and 35.2, the minimum 41 and 31.2 mm. (Hartert, 1920). 
The incubation period is about twenty-one days but has been variously given as 
from nineteen to twenty-four. Observations made by Hantzsch (1905) in Iceland 
showed that the female sat twenty days from the time the last egg was laid, but 
spasmodic sitting of an hour or two had taken place before this. This would make 
the true period about twenty-one days, for ducks usually begin to sit from one to 
two days before the last egg is deposited. Mr. Wormald’s records of eggs hatched 
under artificial conditions suggest an even shorter time, namely, nineteen to twenty 
days. 
The behavior of the male during and after the incubation period has not been 
adequately studied, but it seems to differ somewhat from that of the Mallard. The 
mated pairs appear much attached and polygamous tendencies are perhaps less 
common than with other migrant ducks. Millais (1902) remarks that after the end 
of April one never sees among Teal the tertium quid arrangement so common with 
other ducks. Most males desert the females and begin to flock together toward the 
end of the incubation period, but there are so many cases of males being seen close 
to the nest or even in company with the female and young that one must conclude 
that the male is at times quite domestic in his habits. Millais (1902) mentions an 
instance of a male accompanying the brood, and in Iceland Hantzsch (1905) says 
he has seen the same thing. Older writers (Faber, Dresser, etc.) have also referred to 
this trait so that it cannot be considered merely as an exceptional occurrence. The 
instinct of protection is very strongly developed in the female, and more or less 
