432 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of winter it is expected that the interesting visitor will take flight to 

 warmer quarters. — Sibeet Saunders (Whitstable). 



Flamingo in Suffolk. — The Flamingo which Dr. Murie describes 

 (ante, p. 393) as being seen on the Eiver Aide on August 22nd was not 

 allowed to live long, for no doubt it is the same which was shot by 

 Mr. George Musters at Morston, on the north coast of Norfolk, the 

 following day. It is a very fine bird, in beautiful plumage, and has 

 been preserved by Mr. Pashley, and neither he nor I can see the 

 slightest trace of confinement about it, its feet, wings, and plumage 

 generally being in perfect condition, without swellings on the former, 

 or any abrasions. — J. H. Gueney (Keswick Hall, Norwich). 



Yorkshire Notes on the Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata). — This 

 sprightly little Duck has several local names, and, as it is an expert 

 diver — really a diving Duck — it is in many places known as the 

 Black and White Diver, Little Black Diver, and White-sided Diver. 

 The golden yellow irides of the adult bird's eye often secure it the 

 name of Golden-eye — wrongly, of course, as it is easily distinguished 

 from the true Golden-eye Duck (which, by the way, does not breed in 

 this country). Full-grown birds scale an average weight of twenty- 

 six ounces, and measure a trifle over sixteen inches in length. Tufted 

 Duck are nowhere common ; still, I am aware of several places in York- 

 shire where a few pairs rear their young in safety every year. That 

 it is not an early breeder is proved by the fact that I did not find a 

 nest this year till the last week in June, when I discovered four in 

 one afternoon. My photograph (on following page) shows one of them 

 at home. When commencing the nest the duck will take advantage of 

 some slight depression in the ground, the nest invariably being made 

 on land ; this hollow is sparsely lined with grass and leaves, and the 

 greenish buff eggs laid day by day till they number eight to ten. When 

 the duck commences to sit she almost strips her breast and body of 

 the down so admirably adapted to making a marvellously comfortable 

 nest. I am not aware whether the Tufted drake will strip his down as 

 is done by the Eider when the nest has been despoiled several times ; 

 also, I had no means to test the matter, as the slightest disturbance 

 would cause my feathered friends to desert the nest, with little proba- 

 bility of my locating it again with any certainty. It appears the duck 

 takes the brunt of the burden of rearing the young, while the drake 

 spends his time with some friends diving, swimming, flying, and 

 amusing themselves in the approved manner of Ducks out in the 

 middle of the lake. So far, I am unable to settle whether he takes a 

 share in incubation or not — at any rate, he is exceptionally dutiful 



