COURTSHIP OF DUCKS AND NOTES ON HYBRIDS. 697 
discover and describe a distinct form of responsive courtship 
in the female Goldeneye. He says : — “ The female Goldeneye 
has a very noticeable courtship as well as the male — she sinks 
her breast low in the water, which gives the impression of 
cocking up the tail, but I have satisfied myself that she does 
not do so — at the same time she suddenly throws up her head 
and neck until the bill is quite perpendicular, at the same time 
she makes a loud call, quite unpronounceable, and quite 
distinct from that uttered by the male. She also kicks with 
both feet, but does not kick quite so high as the male. The 
kick is done with both feet one after the other in quick 
succession.” (British Diving-ducks, Vol. I., p. 93.) I per- 
sonally watched Mr. Legge’s tame Golden-eyes displaying last 
March, and was most interested in watching the responsive 
display of the female as described above. 
The Tufted duck’s courtship is not very exciting, the male 
merely raising his head with neck stretched as high as possible 
and emitting a very pretty little whistle ; at the same time he 
quivers all over his body, and occasionally throws back his 
head in a manner described as being common to nearly all 
diving ducks. 
The courtship of the Scaup duck consists, so far as I have 
seen, in the male approaching the female with head and neck 
held up to their fullest extent, the bill being raised in the air 
to an angle of 50° to 60° ; at the same time he utters what 
may be described as a crooning sort of note. The actual 
show is a quick throw up of head and neck, with the latter 
greatly distended with air. 
The Common Pochard throws back the head along the 
back, the head being turned back to such an angle that the 
throat is uppermost. The males also stretch out their necks, 
greatly distended with air, along the surface of the water, at 
the same time uttering a low note like a groan. 
The courtship of the Ferruginous duck or White-eyed 
Pochard is similar to that of the Common Pochard, except that 
during the throw back of the head the throat is not uppermost, 
