File:British birds' nests; how, where, and when to find and identify them (1898) (14562941159).jpg

Identifier: britishbirdsnest00kear (find matches)
Title: British birds' nests; how, where, and when to find and identify them
Year: 1898 (1890s)
Authors: Kearton, Richard, 1862-1928
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain Birds -- Nests
Publisher: London, New York (etc.) Cassell and company, limited
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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Text Appearing Before Image:
Somewhat gregarious. Eggs harmonisevery closely with their surroundings. POCHARD. Descriptioi of Parent Birds.—Length aboutnineteen inches. Bill of medium length, depressednear the centre, black at the tip, pale blue in themiddle, and black at the base, which is slightlyraised. Irides red. Head and upper jiart of neck,all round, deep chestnut, lower part of neck, allround, black. Back, scapulars, tertials, and Aving-coverts finely freckled with grey and dusky undu-lating lines; secondaries and primaries bluish-grey,the former tijiped with white ^ and the latter endingin dusky brown. Rump and upj^er tail-covertsdusky black; tail feathers dusky brown mixedwith grey. Breast, sides, and under-parts greyish-white, marked by minute dusky lines, darkest onthe vent. Legs, toes, and webs leaden grey. The female differs considerably in appearance.Her bill is black. Hides reddish-brown. Headand upper part of necdv dull greyish-brown, lightestin front; lower portion of neck dusky brown. Upper-
Text Appearing After Image:
214 BBITISH BIRDS XESTS. parts darker, and niider-parts dull greyisli-wliite,clouded witL b^o^Yn ; niider tail-coverts dusky grey. Situation and Localiti/.—On the ground, in tuftsof rushes, coarse grass, in osier beds; amongstflags and sedges growing on the shores of lakes,broads, and tarns, in the North, East, and Soutliof England; also in Scotland and Ireland. Ourillustration was procured in Norfolk. The nestwas situated amongst the reeds on the riglit-handside of the picture opposite. Materials.—Sedges, rushes, and dry grass, withan inner lining of down. The tufts are brownish-grey with whitish centres. Eggs.—Seven to ten, occasionally as many asthirteen or fourteen. Pale grej^sh-buff or greenish-drab. Size about 2-35 by l? in. Distinguishedfrom the Tufted Duck only by the browner colourof the down-tufts. Time.—May. Beiuarls.—Eesident and migratory, being morenumerous in winter. Notes, a low whistle, butwhen alarmed or vexed, a hoarse kind of croak, likekr-Ji)--hr. Local

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