186 BUULETIN 12(3, UNITED STATES NATIONAL, MUSEUM. 



it were, of rough water, and take just as much advantage of bank shelter as is com- 

 patible with safety. This sense of caution is also evinced in their methods of going 

 ashore to sleep and preen, for thej'^ generally chose some gentle shallow or low 

 eloping island over which some members of the flock can see at all times, and on 

 which the rest of the flock can rest at midday. On smaller pools they show an affec- 

 tion for those small green islands round which the muddy bottom produces an abun- 

 dance of plant growth. Where constantly protected, it is common to see them in close 

 proximity to the rushy banks where alders and willows grow and keep off the winds. 

 Like all ducks, they seem to dislike a draft, and avoid wind-swept areas of water. 



Spring. — The pochards that intend to nest within a certain area follow the general 

 rule of all diving ducks and arrive in one flock, generally on the largest sheet of open 

 fresh water in the neigborhood from the 10th to the 15th of March, or even later if 

 the weather is still inclement. The curious groaning wheeze of the male may now be 

 frequently heard, and courtship commences. The finest colored males being those 

 of 2 years or over, are always the first to pair, and drive off the young males which, 

 at a distance, may appear to be adult. The latter remain in a flock apart and seem 

 to be easily discouraged from paying attention to the females. If, however, there ia 

 not a preponderance of males, as there usually is in the case of this duck, these young 

 males will often pair with the females, who are quite ready to make love to them. 



Courtship. — At the commencement of courtship, generally on the first warm day, 

 several males are to be seen showing off before one duck. In most birds, pairing is 

 generally due to the disposition on the part of the female to accept attentions, and you 

 will usually notice that some particular female is in advance of the rest of her sex in 

 this respect. As I have shown in my drawing, which is done direct from life, four or 

 five males are crowding round one female who, in turn circles round some male, dij>- 

 ping her bill in the water stretching her neck low on the water, and occasionally utter- 

 ing her coarse cry of kurr-hurr-kurr. The males continuously keep up their curious 

 groan, which is somewhat like a man affected with asthma and being told by the 

 doctor to "take a deep breath." In addition to this call, they also utter a soft low 

 whistle, which the spectator must be close at hand to hear. The first attitude of 

 the male consists in throwing the head and neck back until the back of the head 

 touches a point between the shoulders. This is repeated constantly at the commence- 

 ment of courtship. The more common display is to blow the neck out with air, with 

 the head raised horizontally, and utter the groan as the air is released. During this 

 show a distinct " kink " is to be observed in the lower part of the neck, whilst the 

 center is unusually swollen. The fullest display is usually performed as the male 

 approaches the female. The male then lies very flat on the water and stretches the 

 head and neck to the fullest extent, at the same time blowing out the neck and 

 frequently turning the head on one side so to display its full beauty. Two or three 

 males may thus often be seen together laying themselves out to attract the female's 

 attention, and the effect is somewhat striking. During these moments of intense 

 excitement the pupil of the eye of the male nearly disappears, and the eye itself seems 

 to blaze a very rich lacquer red. 



Nesting. — In the breeding season pochards seem to prefer small lakes whose sides 

 are overgrown with dense vegetation or even large reed-beds. Small islands are also 

 very attractive to them, but, if absent, they will seek out nesting sites that nm into 

 meadows of sedge and grass, from which flow channels connected with the main 

 pools. They are not at this season averse to the close proximity of man, and the pair 

 of birds keep very close together imtil the female commences to sit. The nest is 

 usually built just above the level of the water on the edge of a clump of reeds where 

 the soil is firm, or in the center of a small island. As a rule, it is entirely covered with 

 undergrowth and well lined with down. The female usually deposits from 7 to 9 

 eggs. Leverkiihn records one nest of 10 eggs and Saunders and Naumann one each of 13 

 eggs, whilst Professor Newton had a clutch of 14 eggs sent from Yorkshire, probably 



