OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 393 



built on a mass of fallen vegetation many yards from shore, in moderately deep 

 water, or in a tuft of sedge surrounded by shallow water. The nest is made of 

 dry grass, sedge, broken rushes and flags, or any other aquatic vegetable refuse 

 that may chance to be readily available, warmly lined with down and a few 

 feathers from the body of the female. The eggs are from eight to twelve, or 

 even fourteen in number, ten being an average clutch, and are greenish-grey in 

 colour. They measure on an average 2'4 inches in length by 1"7 inch in breadth. 

 The down tufts are large, greyish-brown in colour, with dull white centres. 

 When the female leaves the nest she carefully covers the eggs ; and to her alone 

 is left all care of the brood. 



Diagnostic characters — (Nuptial plumage), Nyroca, with the head 

 and neck chestnut, and the lower back and scapulars white vermiculated with 

 black (adult male) ; with the axillaries white, with a varying amount of white 

 vermiculations on the upper parts, and with no white alar speculum (adult 

 female). Length, 17 to 19 inches. 



