TUFTED DUCK 239 



times throw the head sharply backward so as to "touch or almost touch the dorsal 

 feathers'* resembling the posture of the Golden-eye but "less forcible and spas- 

 modic and without the vocal accompaniment." Another action mentioned by Brock 

 as rarer, is the raising of the fore part of the body in the water in a somewhat slow 

 and deliberate maimer as though about to flap the wings, the head and neck being 

 simultaneously extended almost perpendicularly upward. The backward throw of 

 the head in the drake and the "bill tossing" action of both sexes continue more or 

 less after the pairing season. 



A rather intensive and very interesting study of paired Tufteds was made by S. E. 

 Brock through the pre-nesting period and brought out some points of special interest. 

 At this season (April) the birds spend much time ashore dozing and at intervals nib- 

 bling and pulling at the upper breast-feathers as if some irritating factor were at 

 work. This preening is quite different in character from that seen ordinarily in the 

 water during autumn and winter. Another curious trait which he watched in sev- 

 eral pairs during late April seemed to be an incipient nest building and was common 

 to both sexes. The following quotation gives an idea of this habit: 



"23rd April, 7.55 a.m. — Three pairs of birds sitting on grassy bank close to the 

 water's edge, each couple a little apart. One pair at same spot as yesterday. 8.5 — 

 Male of this pair settles in hollow used yesterday, and pulls a little at surrounding 

 vegetation, later dozing; female of second pair plucking slightly and vaguely at grass 

 beside her. All six birds doze intermittently, but frequently rising to preen. . . . 

 8.25 — Male of first pah (still in the hollow) plucks at grass, wheels round in his place 

 and settles down again, renewing his plucking actions a little later. 8.40 — Male of 

 third pair goes through similar antics, and now, for the first time, strands of grass 

 are clearly visible in the bill; they are pulled up and dropped by the bird's side. 

 Later he goes to sleep, his head nodding forward. 8.50 — Male of first pah plucks a 

 little and goes through the action of swallowing." 



Pursuit flights are seen on the breeding grounds, but these are not so obvious a 

 feature as in the Mallard and the flights are seldom continued for any great distance. 



Although pairing and arrival upon the breeding places often take place very early, 

 the actual nesting is somewhat late. In England the usual time is late May or early 

 June but some begin as early as May 18 (Millais). Norfolk dates are said to be rather 

 early and Scotch dates a week or ten days later. Continental records are mostly for 

 early June, but there is one date for April 21 at Havel River, Germany (Naumann, 

 1896-1905). 



The actual site is generally close to the water (sometimes one hundred yards away 

 from it) but on rather dry ground in dense vegetation or under bushes on sloping 

 banks of islands, high tussocks, low dykes, long points of land and places that were 

 once wet but have recently dried off. They seem never (?) to build actually over the 

 water as the Pochards and the Ruddy Ducks do. The nest is often rather well con- 



