THE LONG-TAILED DUCK. 345 



Usually keeps well away from shore. Most noisy of all sea-ducks^ 

 its curious guttural call, constantly repeated and audible from far 

 out at sea, betraying its identity even before bird itself becomes 

 visible. Duration of dive usually from 30-40 seconds. (C. E. 

 Alford.) 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds on islets in lakes, or near shores of 

 lakes and rivers. Nest. — Sheltered by heather or low bushes and 

 growing vegetation, lined with small-sized light-centred dark down 

 (feathers from nest, see Brit. Birds, n, PL 2). Eggs. — Usually 6-8, 

 occasionally 9 to 10, greenish-grey or light greyish -olive. Average 

 of 130 eggs, 53.3x38. Max.: 59.5x40 and 57.5x40.5. MnT: 

 47.2x35 and 48.3x34.8 mm. Breeding -season. — Early June to 

 July. Incubation. — By female only. Period said to last 3 J weeks. 

 Single brooded. 



Food. — Mainly animal ; especially mollusca (Cardium, Buccinum, 

 Lacuna, Tellina, Patella, Mytilus, Cy dope, Littorina, etc.) ; also 

 Crustacea (shrimps, small crabs, sandhoppers, etc.), pteropoda, and 

 some vegetable matter (algse, roots, mosses, etc.), and occasionally 

 grain from wrecks. In summer freshwater insects and their larvse, 

 including diptera (Chironomidce, etc.), hemiptera (Corixa). Small 

 red worms also recorded. 



Distribution. — British Isles. — Winter-visitor (end Sept.-end Oct. 

 to March-May, occasionally summer, and possibly a few resident). 

 Regular visitor east coast Great Britain, occasional south and west 

 coasts England and Wales. On most of west side Scotland and in 

 Hebrides as well as Orkneys and Shetlands very common. In 

 Ireland somewhat irregular, and chiefly visits north and west coasts. 

 On inland waters rare vagrant. Eggs apparently of this species 

 taken several times Shetlands ; breeding reported and eggs taken 

 summer 1911, Orkneys (O. V. Aplin, Zool., 1911, p. 432; cf. Brit. 

 B., v, p. 203 ; vi, pp. 128, 199, 263 ; vn, p. 205), and some evidence 

 of previous nesting Orkneys. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Northern Hemisphere. Breeding in 

 arctic regions (in Europe, Iceland, Faeroes, Spitsbergen, N. 

 Scandinavia, N. Russia and adjacent islands, also N. Asia and 

 N. America), wintering further southwards to Black and Caspian 

 Seas, and (in small numbers) Mediterranean, in Asia to Lake Baikal, 

 Japan, China, in America in northern United States and on Great 

 Lakes, and as far south as Gulf of Mexico. Casual Azores, Madeira 

 and Switzerland. 



Genus HISTRIONICUS Less. 



Histrionicus Lesson, Manuel d'Orn. n, p. 415 (1828 — Type expressly 

 mentioned " Anas histrionica L."). 



Bill about half as long as head, shorter than tarsus, very 

 narrow, much tapering towards tip. Nail occupying entire tip of 

 bill and extending far back on culmen, often without distinct 



