By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 163 



which is quite at home in the heaviest surf, and swims and dives 

 with equal facility. 



" Pochard." {Fiiligula Jerina.) This species known also as the 

 Dun bird, visits our shores in winter in immense numbers, and pene- 

 trates inland wherever retired lakes and quiet rivers offer it a 

 suitable asylum : for it is a very shy bird, and generally avoids 

 the proximity of man. In contrast to its usual habits of timidity, 

 and in proof of the confidence which even the wilder birds soon 

 learn to entertain when unmolested, I have seen the Pochards 

 arrive on the lake at Walton Hall, (where I was on a visit to my 

 lamented friend, Mr. Waterton,) and fearlessly swim in flocks before 

 the windows, where we could watch their motions at leisure, while 

 they seemed wholly unconcerned at our presence. The Pochard 

 bears a close resemblance in colour and general appearance to the 

 famous Canvas-backed Duck of America, and is said to be little 

 inferior to that bird in delicacy : consequently it is much sought 

 after by the fowler, and taken in vast numbers. It has been very 

 often met with in Wiltshire. 



" Scaup Duck." {Fuligula marila.) This too is a very common 

 bird on the British coasts, and as it frequents the southern shores 

 in vast numbers, it is not surprising that a straggler occurs in 

 Wiltshire occasionally. It is of stout compact shape, and the black 

 head and neck glossed with green reflections, and the grey and 

 white spotted plumage of the back contrast to great advantage. 



" Tufted Duck." {Fuligula cristata.) This is a regular winter 

 visitant to our shores, and is not unfrequently found inland. The 

 specimen in my collection was kindly given me by Mr. Swayne, 

 who killed it in 1856, when shooting with the late Lord Herbert 

 at Grovely, and this is the only Wiltshire specimen I have seen, 

 though I have heard of its occurrence in several parts of the 

 county. It derives its name from a long pendant crest of narrow 

 silky feathers. 



" Long-tailed Duck." {Fuligula glacialis.) I include this species 

 in the Wiltshire list without hesitation, as I do so on the authority 

 of that excellent Ornithologist, the late Rev. George Marsh : other- 

 wise I have no farther notice of its appearance amongst us : indeed. 



