The Tufted Duck. "49 



common in the Caucasus as a spring and autumn migrant, wintering on the 

 southern shores of the Caspian. Very common in southern Afghanistan, where it 

 probably breeds ; passes through Gilgit on migration and has been shot in winter. 

 In Turkestan occurs both on passage and wintering. Exceedingly common on the 

 jheels and tanks of Northern and Central India, and as far south as Secunderabad. 

 It is an abundant species in the China markets, also in Japan and Corea ; com- 

 mon at Foochow, and has been shot in Borneo in October. Mr. T. O. de la 

 Touche saw a large flock on a lake in South Formosa, but found them quite 

 unapproachable, ("Ibis," 95, 326-7). Altogether this little sober coloured Duck 

 has an enormous winter range from Western Ireland to the bounds of Asia and 

 the far East. 



In 1886 I had the pleasure, in company with Mr. Whitaker, of Rainworth 

 Lodge, of visiting one of the chief nesting quarters, at that time, of the Tufted 

 Duck in England, on his own and adjoining properties in Nottinghamshire ; since 

 this I have had many opportunities, in various places, of studying the habits of 

 this bird, but none which have left such pleasant and abiding memories : also 

 I was in company with one who had the fullest knowledge of the bird and its 

 habits. 



In the " Descriptive List of the Birds of Nottinghamshire," Mr. Whitaker, (I 

 give his remarks in an abridged form), says, this Duck is very partial to Rainworth 

 Water, where it had then nested for thirty-five years. It pairs in March, but goes 

 to nest late at the end of May or early in June. After pairing the male and 

 female are inseparable, swimming together. The female on being alarmed always 

 takes wing before the male, and calls currugh, currugh. He has never seen the 

 male fly before the female had got two or three yards start. The call note is 

 uttered several times, not only at starting, but when about to alight. The flight 

 is first close to the water, but when they rise in the air they fly very strongly 

 with a loud rushing noise of wings. It is a very tame bird. In the evening they 

 leave the ponds at flight time and return in the morning, resting and diving for 

 weeds during the day and becoming restless, as the hour for leaving approaches. 

 The nest is made of rushes and grass, and is placed close to the water; the 

 number of eggs from eight to thirteen. Mr. Whitaker has frequently seen twelve 

 or thirteen young following the female. The young do not join in the evening 

 flights till September, only the males leaving the pond. 



The numbers of these resident birds are greatly increased by immigrants which 

 come late in October, but more commonly in November, in the dusk of evening 

 I have several times been startled by the rapid rush of a flight coming from the 

 Humber to some inland feeding place, usually flying very low, quite within 



Vol IV. 2B 



