504 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 
shoots of water-plants, small frogs, insects and small 
fry, spawn (when it can get it) of sea-fish, Crustacea 
and Mollusca: when living on this latter diet its 
flesh is not as good eating as it is at other times, 
being then a little too like that of the Common 
Scoter. 
A few of these birds are said to breed in some 
counties in England. The nest is placed amongst 
reeds, rushes and other coarse herbage, on the 
borders of inland waters. Meyer says that in 
localities that suit the species great numbers of 
nests are placed near each other, although each nest 
is placed out of sight of the others. I do not know 
that the Pochard breeds in confinement, but I should 
think it would do so so if it had suitable accom- 
modation. My duck and drake certainly paired, 
and I had great hopes of a brood, but none made its 
appearance: I rather think the eggs must have been 
laid in the water. 
In plumage the Pochard is rather a handsome 
bird. The beak is lead-blue, except at the point and 
at the base, which are black; irides red; the head 
and neck are reddish chesnut, the breast and a 
broadish collar on the back of the neck are black ; 
the back, scapulars: and tertials are white, minutely 
pencilled all over with black; the wing-coverts are 
dark grey, minutely freckled with white; the quills 
are dusky, tinged with brown; secondaries lighter, 
and tipped with white; rump and upper and under 
