INDIAN DVCKS AND THEIR ALLIES: 609 



Lathom in his " Synopsis of Birds " says that it " has a hissing voice. 

 The flight is rapid and strong : the flocks have no particular shape in 

 flying, but are indiscriminate." This flying en masse and not in line or 

 V-shape would appear to be typical of all the true Pochards. 



The Pochard breeds extensively over Europe and even in Northern 

 Africa, in Algiers. It has also been reported as breeding in Egypt, but 

 probably by mistake. It also breeds in the western half of North- 

 Central Asia. 



They make their nest beside the water, generally right at the edge 

 in amongst long grass, reeds or bushes, and sometimes actually in the 

 water itself. Any piece of water would seem to serve the bird's pm-pose 

 as long as there is sufl&cient cover — it requires this fairly thick and 

 plentiful — nor would it seem to mind whether the water is fresh, salt, 

 or brackish. 



The nest itself is a very slight structure composed of the usual mate- 

 rials employed by ducks, i.e., grass, rushes, weeds, &c. ; when placed 

 actually in the water, it is of necessity somewhat more bulky and better 

 put together than at other times, but even then it is more flimsy and 

 rough than that of most ducks. 



When placed, as it often is, in some hollow or depression of the 

 ground, or amongst roots, &c., it consists merely of a couple of handfuls 

 of materials lined with feathers and down. 



Morris says : " The nest of the Pochard is made among rushes or other 

 coarse herbage, and is lined with feathers. Many nests are placed near 

 each other, in suitable localities, such as osier beds or grassy places." 



" The eggs are from eight or ten to twelve or thirteen in number 

 and of a buff-white colour." 



Dr. Leverkuhn sends me the following interesting note from Sophia, 

 which confirms what other observers have said as to the high qualities 

 of the Pochard as a mother : — " Nyrocaferina is a regular breeder in 

 different lakes in Germany, where I have sometimes taken its nest, and 

 I also ascertained the fact of its breeding on a swampy lake near Varna. 

 The female shows great anxiety concerning the safety of her eggs, and 

 covers the clutch before leaving with some feathers from tho bottom 

 of the nest. I found eight and ten eggs in a nest." 



Hume describes the eggs thus : — " The eggs are very regular, broad 

 ovals ; the shell smooth, but dull and glossless. In colour they are a 



