268 THE WHITE-EYED POCHARD. 
THE WHITE-EYE breeds possibly in some localities in the 
plains of India, and in Sindh, where it swarms during the cold 
weather, and where I was informed that in some broads it remains 
during the whole year. I have never, however, succeeded 
in finding anest, or obtaining any reliable information as to 
one being found in the plains. 
In the lakes of Kashmir they breed most abundantly, so 
abundantly that boat-loads of their eggs are brought into 
the Srinugger market during the season. 
They lay in June, and, according to my native collector, who 
examined a vast number of their nests, build a moderate-sized 
nest of dry rush and sedge in amongst rushes, reeds, and water- 
weeds, sometimes on the ground, and sometimes more or less 
floating, and supported on masses of water-plants. The interior 
of the nest is composed of rather finer materials, and the eggs 
are generally more or less intermixed with feathers and down. 
Ten was the largest number of eggs found in any nest, but 
in Europe they are said to lay as many as twelve. 
Writing from Southern Spain, Lord Lilford says :— 
“We obtained a nest of nine eggs, from which I shot the 
female bird. The nest was at a short distance from the water, in 
high rushes, and was composed of dead, dry water-plants, flags, 
&c., and lined with thick brownish white down and a few white 
feathers. ” 
The eggs of this species are at once distinguished from those 
of most other ducks laying within our limits, by their well- 
marked, though delicate, cafe au lait tint, which, however, has 
often a faint greenish tinge. In shape they are commonly very 
regular and perfect ovals, moderately broad as a rule, but occa- 
sionally considerably elongated and slightly compressed to- 
wards one end. ‘The shell is very smooth and fine, but it has 
very little gloss. 
In length the eggs vary from 1’9 to 2:2 in length, and from 
1'4 to 1°54 in breadth ; but the average of a large series is 21 
by 1°49. 
SOMEHOW I have but few measurements by me of this species. 
I have measured numbers, but the paper is not forthcoming. 
Six measured this last cold season varied as follows :— 
Males—Length, 16°0 to 17°1; expanse, 24°5 to 27°3 ; wing, 
6'°8 to 7°45 ; tail from vent, 371 to 3°5 ; tarsus; 1 >to 1.475 3bil 
from gape, 1°9 to 2:1; weight, 1 lb. 2 ozs, to 1 lb, 9 ozs. 
Females.—Length, 159 to 16'5 ; expanse, 24'0 to 26°5 ; wing, 
6°8 to 74; tail from vent, 3°0 to: 3°45 tarsus, 10°10 125 73bil 
from gape, I‘9 to 2°05 ; weight, 1 lb. 3 ozs. to 1 Ib. 6 ozs. 
The bill is black, bluish black, and dark leaden, often browner 
below ; the irides white, or greyish white ; the legs and toes 
