324 OUR RARER BIRDS 



gray, conspicuously tipped with white. The female alone 

 takes all charge of the eggs and young. 



Our last two species belong to the division of the diving 

 Ducks, in which the hind toe is furnished with a lobe. The 

 Pochard {Fidigula ferina), with his bright chestnut head and 

 neck, and white lower-back vermiculated with black, is a 

 well-known bird on British coasts, especially in winter. 

 Some of these birds remain to breed, and the nest has been 

 obtained in many parts of the country. The favourite 

 summer haunts of the Pochard are the quiet, strictly preserved 

 sheets of water, broads, and ponds, surrounded by flags and 

 rushes, horse-tail reeds, and other aquatic verdure. It also 

 loves to frequent the clear deep pools in the open parts of 

 forest country on heaths. In winter the Pochard is more 

 evenly distributed along the coast, where its habits are very 

 similar to the allied species. It is a rather late breeder, 

 making its nest amongst the flags and rushes, or in the dense 

 herbage near the shore. The nest is composed of dead reeds 

 and rushes, the leaves of flags and dry grass, lined with the 

 bird's own down. The eggs are from eight to twelve in 

 number, and pale brownish -green in colour. The down 

 resembles that of the Wild Duck, having no white tips, but 

 dull white centres to the tufts. The Pochard is an expert 

 diver, and obtains most of its food at the bottom of the 

 water, pulling up the weeds that grow there ; it also feeds on 

 moUusks and insects. It rises with loud whirr of wing, flies 

 rapidly, uttering a harsh cry as it leaves the water ; but the 

 usual call-note is a shrill whistle. 



Closely resembling the Pochard in all its habits and 

 economy, the Tufted Duck {Fuligula cristata) is another 

 species that breeds regularly, yet locally and sparingly, in 

 England. Its handsome crest is a distinguishing character 

 of the species. The favourite summer quarters of this bird 

 are amongst the lakes and pools and streams that stud the 



