262 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



rounded at tip and about equal or shorter than 6th primary . Scapulars 

 short and rounded at tip, in eclipse with square tips. Both sexes 

 with rounded carpal " spur," more prominent in adult male. Tail 

 almost square only slightly rounded, 14 feathers. Upper tail- 

 coverts almost reach tip of tail. Bill broader towards tip than at 

 base and considerably upturned ; edges of bill with more or less 

 prominent lamellae, more developed towards tip of upper mandible ; 

 lower mandible with lamellae not projecting outwardly ; male 

 develops in early spring at base of upper mandible a prominent 

 fleshy knob which is shrunken and virtually absent in late summer 

 and autumn and only slightly indicated in 1st summer males. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad. <J) in spring carmine or blood-red, later 

 paler, nail dusky, (ad. $) duller, (juv.) greyish-pink ; legs and feet 

 (ad.) flesh-coloured, (juv.) pale greyish-white ; iris brown. 



Characters. — No subspecies. Red upturned bill, green head, 

 large amount of white and chestnut band distinguish adults, while 

 juvenile has upper-parts ash-brown and white and under-parts 

 white. 



Field -characters. — At a distance a boldly pied black and white 

 bird with pose and carriage of a goose, but at close quarters chestnut 

 breast-band, bright red bill and pink feet are conspicuous. Flight 

 slow and laboured. Usually haunts sandy shores and banks and 

 muddy estuaries, where it sometimes packs in large flocks, whilst 

 more rarely it frequents inland waters. Note of male a deep " korr, 

 korr," of female a loud harsh " quack," but both sexes utter subdued 

 chuckling " quack " when brood in danger, and male whistles in 

 spring, a low clear " wh'chee-you." 



Breeding-habits. — A marine species, haunting estuaries, low-lying 

 shores and mud-flats . Nest. — Usually in rabbit-hole or deep burrow, 

 usually about 7 or 8 ft. from entrance but sometimes deeper ; also 

 under furze-bushes, in stone-dykes, under rocks, and occasionally 

 almost open. Consists of large quantity of greyish-white down with 

 feathers (see Brit. Birds, Vol. II, PI. 1), marram grass, etc. Eggs. — 

 Normally about 8 to 15, but 16 to 20 and even 28 and 32 on record, 

 probably due to several females laying together, white. Average 

 size of 100, 65.7x47.3. Max.: 71x48.8 and 69x50. Mn. : 

 60x44 and 62.8x43.3 mm. Breeding -season. — Usually in latter 

 half May, occasionally early in month. Incubation. — Chiefly by 

 female, but called off by male in morning and evening. Period 

 variously given as 24-26 and 28-30 days. Single -brooded. 



Food. — Chiefly mollusca (Buccinum, Paludina, Mya } Skenea, 

 Tellina, etc.), Crustacea (shrimps, prawns and small crabs), with a 

 small quantity of vegetable matter (algae, and fragments of gramineae) 

 and occasionally insects (Carabus and larvae of diptera). 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Resident. Generally distributed 

 suitable localities coast, and especially estuaries, and in some places 

 breeds considerable distance inland. Scarcer in south Great Britain 



