WILD FOWL 
Adult male in eclipse-plumage (August). — Very similar to the female. 
Adult female. — General colour of the head, neck, upperparts and chest 
dark brown; the occipital crest shorter than in the male; feathers 
of the upper breast brown edged with white; rest of the underparts 
white; sides and flanks smoky-brown slightly vermiculated; axillaries 
white. Total length about 16 * 5 inches; bill 1 * 6 inch; wing 7 ■ 3 inches; tail 
2 * 3 inches; tarsus 1 *4 inch. 
General distribution. — ^The tufted-duck is widely distributed over Europe 
and Asia, ranging to North Africa in winter. It breeds in the Faeroe 
Islands and in Norway, but is not very common there; eastwards in 
Sweden, Finland and Russia it is more plentiful, and nests from far beyond 
the Arctic Circle southwards to about 50° N. latitude. In Asia it is 
found in summer up to 70°, and extends to Eastern Siberia and Kam- 
chatka. In winter it ranges over South Europe to North Africa as far as 
Abyssinia, where a few are said to breed on the elevated lakes; thence 
eastwards to India, China and Japan, occasionally wandering to the 
Philippines, Borneo, and even to the Pelew and Marianne Islands in 
the Western Paciflc. 
Distribution in the British Isles. — At the present time it nests throughout 
the British Isles, having greatly increased as a breeding-species during 
the last twenty years. In the colder months large numbers visit the low 
coasts and inland waters, and are often found in company with flocks of 
other diving-ducks. 
Nest and eggs. — ^The nest is usually placed in a tuft of grass or sedge, 
and is made of dry grass lined with down. From eight to thirteen greenish - 
buff eggs are laid towards the end of May or early in June, and measure 
about 2 • 3 by 1 • 5 inches. Incubation lasts from twenty -five to twenty -seven 
days. 
The food consists of aquatic plants and various kinds of animal food, most 
of which is obtained by diving; as a rule the flesh is indifferent eating. 
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