410 ANATID^. 



Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., having met with it; hut the hitter 

 has subsequently received a specimen from Damietta. 



A young male Red-crested Pochard was obtained in Fulton 

 Market, New York, on the 2nd of February, 1872, by Mr, 

 G. A. Boardman, and had undoubtedly been shot in the 

 vicinity. It may be doubted if the presence of this solitary 

 individual in the United States w^as due to natural causes. 



The nest of this species is placed in the rushes or flags, 

 in ponds or open pools of moderately deep water ; the eggs, 

 from seven to nine in number, being described by Mr. Salvin 

 as of a most brilliant fresh green colour when unblown, 

 but wdien emptied the delicate tint fades ; average measure- 

 ments 2*3 by 1'6 in. 



Although one of a sub-family the members of which, as 

 Mr. Dresser correctly states, are all good divers, yet he 

 subsequently asserts (B. of Europe, vi. p. 56B) that this 

 species does not dive, but feeds like the Mallard, The 

 very reverse is the experience of the Editor, who has had 

 considerable opportunities of observing this bird on the 

 Albufera of Valencia, and has seen it dive repeatedly, 

 although unmolested ; in fact, it frequents water of such 

 depth that it must necessarily dive to obtain its food, 

 which consists largely of water-weeds ; also of frogs, small 

 fish, insects, &c. The call-note, which, according to Mr. 

 Hume, is seldom heard by day unless the bird is alarmed, 

 is a deep grating Jxiirr ; but occasionally the male utters a 

 sort of whistle. Major E. A, Butler says that this is one 

 of those wary birds which severely try the sportsman's 

 patience ; taking wing on the slightest indication of danger, 

 and flying up and down the tanks, invariably out of gun- 

 shot. 



Mr, Sclater states (P. Z. S. 1880, p. 52i), that in spite 

 of every care lavished upon several pairs selected from 

 twelve males and six females from the Punjaub, presented 

 to the Zoological Society by Mr. E. C. Buck, they refused 

 to reproduce inter se ; but in 1879 five curious hybrids were 

 produced on the pond on which they were kept ; apparently 

 the result of a cross between this species and the Antarctic 



