102 CATALOGUE OF BIBDS. 



I had made a very successful shot at these birds a 

 few winters back in the east of Norfolk, and the 

 following morning I was again on the look-out for the 

 flock. Though prevented l)y a thick fog from finding 

 them for a considerable time, I at last caught sight 

 of what I took to be nearly a hundred swimming close 

 together, at about sixty yards' distance, and bringing 

 the gun to bear — my finger was on the trigger — when 

 suddenly a head appeared in the centre of the object, 

 and I discovered that the flock of Pochard was a man 

 in a punt, wdthin ten yards of the muzzle of my gun. 

 One second longer and the unfortunate fowler would 

 have received the contents of a punt-gun loaded with 

 a pound and a quarter of shot. I nearly got peppered 

 myself on one occasion under similar circumstances, 

 and, considering the imperfect light in which the 

 heaviest shots are generally made, it is a wonder that 

 more accidents do not occur. 



The flesh of this bird is supposed to resemble that 

 of the celebrated American Canvas-back Duck. 



The specimens in the case w^ere shot on Loch SI3T1, 

 in the east of Ross-shire, in March, 1869. 



PAGETS POCHARD. 



Case 100. 



It is considered that this bird is a cross between the 

 Common Pochard and the White-Eyed Duck. On 

 carefully comparing it with the two species, I think 

 there can be but little doubt on the subject. 



It was quite by chance that the present specimen 

 was obtained. I had pulled the trigger of the punt- 



