POCHARD. 49 



the vent, very conspicuous in flig-ht. The under parts of the 

 duck and young- bird are greyer. The bill and feet are slate- 

 blue to leaden. 



The Ferruginous Duck is an expert diver, seeking its food — 

 weeds, aquatic insects, molluscs, and crustaceans — in fresh- 

 water pools in marshes and other quiet spots, for it is shy and 

 retiring, and even when kept on private waters lurks in those 

 parts where vegetation is thickest. Its call on the wing is 

 similar to that of the Pochard, a harsh, growling kurr. It is 

 not specially quick on the wing, leaving the water with much 

 splashing, and on land is decidedly awkward, but when 

 swimming or diving is perfectly at home. Length, i6 ins. 

 Wing, 775 ins. Tarsus, V2 ins. 



Pochard, Nyroca ferina (Linn.). 



Within recent years there has been a remarkable increase of 

 the Pochard (Plate 20) as a resident species in England, Wales, 

 and Scotland, though it has not yet begun to nest, regularly 

 at any rate, in Ireland. The range of the bird is Palaearctic, 

 though it does not nest far north ; it winters in northern Africa, 

 and eastward to India and China. Great numbers visit our 

 islands in winter, congregating in flocks on the larger waters 

 inland, and, unless frozen out, seldom appear on salt water. 



The " Red-headed Pochard " or " Poker," as it is often called, 

 is also known as the " Curre," from its note, or the " Dunbird." 

 The pronunciation of Pochard is an unsettled point ; the ch is 

 often hard, but at times the first syllable is sounded as if spelt 

 poach. It is not a difficult bird to identify, for the head and 

 neck of the drake are rich chestnut-red, and most of the upper 

 parts lavender-grey, finely pencilled with undulating black lines. 

 It has no central paler crest as in the Wigeon, nor any distinct 

 wing patch ; yet there are many gamekeepers and others who 

 fail to realise the difference. The back of the Scaup is vermicu 



Series II. E 



