372 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



Nidification. — The Garganey is a rather late breeder for a southern 

 species, and its eggs are seldom laid before the end of April or the first half of 

 May. The nest is placed in a great variety of situations, very often in places 

 similar to those selected by the Teal. It is as often as not some distance from 

 water, and has been found in open forests and amongst grovping corn. Usually 

 it is built on the ground amongst tall, thick grass or sedge, or amongst low heath. 

 The nest is made of dry grass, dead rushes, leaves, and other vegetable refuse, 

 warmly lined with down. The eggs are from eight to fourteen in number, and 

 vary from cream-white to buffish-white in colour. They measure on an average 

 1"8 inch in length by 1"35 inch in breadth. The down tufts are small and brown 

 with long white tips. Incubation, performed by the female, is said by Naumann 

 to last from twenty-one to twenty-two days. One brood only is reared in the 

 year, and of this the female apparently takes the entire charge. 



Diagnostic characters.— (Nuptial plumage), Querguedula, with the 

 mantle unvermiculated, with the wing coverts pale blue, and with the under tail 

 coverts white spotted with dark brown (adult male) ; with no metallic alar 

 speculum, and the wing about 7 inches long (adult female). Length, 15 to 16 

 inches. 



