236 



BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



channel open, and place themselves facing the cold clear 

 moon, firing at the pokers as they go across the bright 

 disc. I have known one gunner shoot thirteen in this way. 



The majority of pochards go away in March, but I am 

 convinced from reliable testimony that the common pochard 

 has bred more than once in the Broad district. An old 

 fenman solemnly swore to me he saw seven pochard's eggs 

 taken from Sutton Fens ; and further, he declares they were 

 brought off under a hen, but all the youngsters died. A 

 gentleman assures me he saw a common pochard duck and 

 her brood in one of his covers near the Broads ; and lastly, 

 a gunner, whom I have never known to lie, and who is 

 thoroughly reliable, tells me he has shot them every month 

 in the year — and that last August (two years ago), on the 

 1st, he shot a hen-bird. I have myself seen a hen with 

 internal eggs as late as April 21st. 



As a table-bird, the poker is highly valued by some ; but 

 I prefer a mallard, though the pochard tastes more like the 

 somewhat overrated canvas-back duck. I think a good fat 

 home-bred flapper mallard comes before either. But they 

 are all good. 



COMMON POCHARDS. {From life. 



