POCHARD AND PTARMIGAN 83 



POCHARD (Fuligula ferina) 



Local Names. — Atteal Duck, Attle Duck, Black-Headed Wigeon, 

 Blue-Poker, Common Pochard, Dun Bird, Dun Cur, Dunker, 

 Great-Headed Wigeon, Poker, Red-Eyed Poker, Red-Headed 

 Pochard, Red-Headed Wigeon, Sandy-Headed Poker, Vare- 

 Headed Wigeon. 



Haunt. — Fresh waters and the sea. 



Nesting Period. — May. 



Site of Nest. — The nest is well hidden among herbage near a lake, 

 or some marshy situation. 



Materials Used. — Dry grass and sedge, lined with bird's own down. 



Eggs. — Seven to Twelve. Pale whitish-buff, or greenish-buff. 



Food. — Mostly vegetable matter, for which the bird is almost con- 

 tinually diving. 



Voice. — Call, a low " whistle; " when alarmed or angered, a hoarse, 

 croak-like " kr-kr-kr." 



Chief Features. — A rare Duck nowadays, having disappeared from 

 many of its former haunts. A very handsome species. Unlike 

 the Wild Duck, which obtains its food on the surface of the 

 water, the Pochard has to dive for its daily bread. 



Plumage. — Head and neck chestnut-red; black breast and upper 

 back; fine black and white f recklings on mantle; greyish- 

 white underneath; black tail-coverts; black bill, a blue band 

 across the centre; red irides; bluish-grey legs and feet. The 

 female is dull brown, and possesses a white chin. Length. — 

 Nineteen and a half inches. 



PTARMIGAN {Lagopus mutus) 



Local Names. — Common Ptarmigan, Ptarmichan, Rock Grouse, 



Snow Chick, White Game, White Grouse, White Partridge. 

 Haunt. — Mountains and high hills in Scotland. 

 Nesting Period. — May and June. 



Site of Nest. — A depression in the ground on some mountain fastness. 

 Materials Used. — As a rule, none whatever, but if any, a few heather 



twigs and dead blades of grass. 

 Eggs. — Seven to Ten. Yellowish, spotted and blotched with rich 



dark brown. 

 Food. — Berries and heath shoots in Summer, buds and leaves in 



Winter. 

 Voice. — A frog-like " croak," either low, or loud and prolonged. 



In Summer, on rising, a low " ug, ug." 

 Chief Features. — The high environments it inhabits, the three 



moults it undergoes, and the white plumage in Winter. 



F 



