422 THE GAME BIEDS AND WILD EOWL 



The favourite breeding grounds of this Duck are the lakes on the northern 

 tundras and the banks of the rivers, at no great distance from the sea, especially 

 in localities where dwarf willow and birch scrub is abundant. An island in the 

 lake or river is selected where choice of such a situation admits. The nest is 

 merely a hollow, in which is placed a little dry grass, sprigs of heath, withered 

 leaves, or other such-like refuse, and warmly lined with dovm from the body of 

 the female. The eggs are eight or nine in number and pale greyish-buff in 

 colour, smooth, and with little gloss They measure on an average 2'5 inches 

 in length by 1'8 inch in breadth. The down tufts are large, brownish-grey in 

 colour, with pale centres. One brood only is reared in the season, of which the 

 female apparently takes the entire charge. 



Diagnostic characters. — (Nuptial plumage), (Edemia, with the bill 

 black with a yellow mark on the culmen in front of the basal knob, with the entire 

 plumage bright black (adult male) ; with the axillaries brown, with the under 

 tail coverts dark brown, with the culmen 1'5 inch or more in length, and with 

 no alar speculum (adult female). Length, 20 to 21 inches. 



