362 A PRACTICAL HANDBOOK OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



Field -characters. — Essentially maritime and frequenter of rocky 

 coasts and islands," even in nesting season. Black under-parts, tail 

 and crown contrasted strongly with white upper-parts and set off 

 by rosy breast and green patches on sides of head and nape mark 

 male at once. Ruddy brown black-barred female differs from 

 Mallard and other surface -feeders in her size, heavy build and habit 

 of diving, whilst at close quarters fore -head sloping gradually to 

 bill and wedge of feathers on each side of upper mandible may be 

 made out. In flight, which is sluggish and just clear of the waves, 

 bulky form and short thick neck are very noticeable. Call a hoarse 

 grating " kr-r-r-r " is like that of so many other ducks. Love notes 

 of male are a mourning " wow, wouw, wouw," and in autumn I 

 have heard a chorus of dove-like cooing notes and hoarse quacks 

 uttered by packs comprised of both sexes. 



Breeding-habits. — In British Isles nests on islands, links and 

 coast, but usually near the sea, though in Iceland it also breeds on 

 islands in rivers. Nest. — Hollow among growing vegetation or 

 sheltered by rocks, plentifully lined with brownish-grey down 

 (feathers from nest, see Brit. Birds, n, PI. 2). Eggs. — Usually 4 to 

 6, but 8 and 9 on record. Larger numbers possibly represent joint 

 nests. Colour greenish-grey to exceptionally bright green and even 

 deep blue, frequentlv marked with oil spots. Average of 77 British 

 eggs, 77.16x50.7. Max.: 86x50 and 79.7x53.5. Mm: 71.2X 

 50.3 and 75.6x47.5 mm. Breeding -season. — End May and early 

 June. Incubation. — By female alone. Period 27-28 days. Single 

 brooded. 



Food. — Almost entirely animal ; chiefly mollusca, especially mussel 

 (Mytilus edulis), frequently periwinkles, razor-shells (up to 8 and 

 even 10 inches long), limpets ; Venus, Cardium, Nerita and Buc- 

 cinum also recorded. Crustacea also freely eaten (small crabs) and 

 barnacles. Also sea-urchins (Echinus), star -fish, occasionally small 

 fish, seaweeds (Ulvacece), beetles (Hydradephaga and Geodephaga) 

 and entrails of fish thrown overboard. 



Distribution. — Great Britain. — Resident and winter-visitor. 

 Breeds coast of Northumberland, Holy Isle and Fame Isles ; along 

 east coast Scotland, in Orkneys, Shetlands, O. and many I. Hebrides, 

 parts of Argyll coast, and in recent years northwards on west coast. 

 As a winter-visitor uncommon or rare on west and south coasts 

 Great Britain, but lately increased in parts of west Scotland ; on 

 east coast regular, becoming more abundant from Northumberland 

 northwards. Ireland. — Found breeding on island off co. Donegal 

 in 1912 (H. W. Robinson, Brit. B., vi, pp. 106, 166), and has bred 

 regularly since and is now well established in this district. Other- 

 wise rare vagrant to all provinces, most frequent in north. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Breeds in north-western Palsearctic 

 region east to shores of Kara Sea and south to Sylt and (casually) 

 Vlieland and Terschelling Islands, also one pair Bretagne (France). 

 In winter along coasts of Europe, occasionally to south Europe and 



