406 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD FOWL 



this species consists of the buds, roots, stems, and leaves of aquatic plants, worms, 

 mollusks, crustaceans, etc. Most of this is obtained by diving. During winter 

 this Duck usually consorts in small flocks, but sometimes gathers into greater 

 numbers during severe weather when its feeding grounds are more restricted. 



Nidification. — According to latitude and climate the breeding season of 

 the Buffel-headed Duck begins in May or June. Like the Golden-Eye it breeds 

 in hollow trees, sometimes as much as twenty feet from the ground. No particular 

 species of tree seems selected; all that is desired is a suitable hole. No nest is 

 made, and the eggs are laid on the decayed powdered wood at the bottom of the 

 hole, which is, however, eventually lined with down, plucked from the body of the 

 female. They are from six to ten in number, and pale greenish-grey in colour. 

 They measure on an average 2"0 inches in length by 1'45 inch in breadth. 

 Although several observers have been very careful to inform us that the nest hole 

 contained a quantity of down, none of them have deemed it sufficiently important 

 to describe it ; it probably resembles that of the Golden-eye. Whether the male 

 takes any share in domestic duties is unknown, as is also the period of 

 incubation. 



Diagnostic characters — (Nuptial plumage) Gharitonetta, with the 

 axillaries brown and with a large white patch on the side of the head, commencing 

 behind the eye (both sexes). Length, 14 to 1.5 inches. 



