T'> 



POCHARD. 



RED-HEADED POCHARD. COMMON POCHARD. POCHARD 

 DUCK. DUN BIRD. 



PLATE CXCVI. FIG. II. 



Anas ferina, .... Pennant. ^Montagu. 

 Fuligula ferina, .... Selby. Jentns. 

 Nyroca ferina, .... Fleming. 



Meyer says, "about the end of April the Red-headed 

 Pochards pair; there are no quarrels between the male 

 birds, for the female is said to choose her own mate; 

 and the pair remain inseparable, and do not quit the 

 spot until the young brood are hatched and ready to 

 follow them towards the larger lakes, etc., where they 

 consider them out of danger." 



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. 



The Pochard bred, in the year 1855, in the gardens 

 of the Zoological Society, as Frederick Bond, Esq. has 

 written me word. 



