ANAS ACUTA. 1079 



the Yenesay river in Siberia and on the Petchora in Russia, whilst in America it is said to commence laying 

 about the 20th of May. The nest, writes Mr. Dresser, is made on the ground, often under the shelter of a 

 bush, usually not far from the water, and is lined with small flags or grass-bents ; and, within these, down 

 and feathers form a soft bed for the eggs to lie upon. In number the eggs vary from seven to nine. They 

 are smooth in texture, fairly glossy, and pointed ovals in shape, but some are of the same form at both 

 ends. They are pale clear olivaceous greenish. Several specimens in a fine series before me, taken on the 

 Petchora by Mr. Seebohm, measure 2 - l by P5, 2 - 05 by P53, 2 - 08 by 1 - 51, 2'08 by l - 49 inches respectively. 



The " nest-down" is large and hair-brown in colour, not very dark, with rather wide pale centres and just 

 perceptible pale tips *. 



* The down with which each species of Duck lines its nest, and to which I apply the term nest-down, is an important 

 characteristic in determining the egg, as a thorough acquaintance with it enables the oologist to identify the eggs when 

 the bird is not seen. 



