460 



10 



covered with a sod made like a lid, but quite close, so that the light cannot penetrate into the 

 interior, and fashioned so that it can be easily removed and the contents of the nest examined. 

 In this manner the eggs are regularly collected by the peasants (no nest being entirely cleared 

 of eggs), and the Duck still continues to lay, until a considerable number of eggs have been 

 taken, when she is allowed to sit, and hatches out those which are left. Naumann says that 

 some of the peasants, who own a considerable number of nests, will collect as many as twenty or 

 thirty eggs per diem, and are able to do this for a couple of weeks. As soon as the birds begin 

 to incubate, about half the down, which is nearly as valuable as that of the Eider, is taken, and 

 forms a by no means trifling source of profit to the owner of the burrows. The eggs are said to 

 be very good for eating, but have a rather strong flavour. 



Incubation lasts four weeks ; and so soon as the young are hatched they leave the nest and 

 are conducted by their parents to the sea, where they remain until full-grown. 



The eggs of this Duck (from seven to twelve, occasionally sixteen in number) are considerably 

 larger than those of the Mallard, and are yellowish white or ivory-white in colour, with a faint 

 greenish tinge inside, and are very smooth and polished in grain. Naumann states that if, as 

 is done in Sylt, the first six eggs are left and all those subsequently laid are taken, the bird will 

 lay as many as from twenty to thirty eggs, but if none are ever taken it never lays more than 

 sixteen. 



Mr. Stevenson, referring to the provincial name of" Bargander" or "Burgander," by which 

 this Duck is known in Norfolk, says that it is presumably a contraction of burrow-gander ; but 

 it appears to me just as probable that it is derived from its German name " Bergente," by which 

 this bird is well known all along the German coasts. 



The specimens figured are the adult male and the young bird in down above described. 



In the preparation of the above article I have examined the following specimens : — 



E Mus. H. E. Dresser. 



a, 8 , b, $ . Albania, winter [Hanbury Barclay) . c, 6 . Nordland, Norway, spring (R. Collett) . d, pull. 

 Hitteren, Trondhjem, Norway, June 25th, 1870 (R. Collett). 



