NETTA RUFINA 255 



is what most of us have taken to be the habits of this bird ; he 

 writes thus after quoting Dresser's remarks: — 



' I should like to know where he obtained this valuable informa- 

 tion. The fact is, that though you viaij at times see it dibbling 

 about in the water like teal and shovellers, or again feeding as he 

 describes, its normal habit and practice in to dive, and I have 

 watched flocks of them, scores of times, diving for an hour at a time 

 with pertinacity and energy unsurpassed by any other wild-fowl. 

 Examine closely their favourite haunts, and you will find these to 

 be almost invariably just those waters in which they must dive for 

 their food — deep broads, where the feathery water- weed beds 

 do not reach within several feet of the surface, not the compara- 

 tively shallow ones, where the same weeds (the character of their 

 leaves changed, however, by emergence) lie in thick masses coiled 

 along the surface." 



This is certainly my experience, and I noticed in the Sunderbands 

 how very much this duck kept to the open central portion of the 

 huge bheels, feeding there on and amongst the aquatic plants, 

 especially on a long, trailing, moss-like weed which grew several 

 feet under water. Moreover. I have found in their stomachs the 

 roots of plants which do not grow except in fairly deep water. They 

 not only dive well and for long periods, but they also dive to no 

 inconsiderable depth ; and that it is a pleasure to them to dive is 

 shown by their constant diving when at play, chasing one another 

 both above and below the surface. 



They feed both night and day, but mainly 'in the early morning 

 and evening ; and though the very much greater portion of their diet is 

 undoubtedly aquatic, yet they have been known to feed on young crops 

 on dry land. Of course, like all or nearly all ducks, they rest during 

 the hottest hours of the day, selecting quite open, deep water for that 

 purpose when it is available. They have the credit of being awkward 

 and feeble on land, but that very close observer, Mr. F. Finn, says 

 that they come ashore more often than the other pochards, and walk 

 better also. 



No duck varies much more than this one in the quality of its 

 flesh ; when at its best very few ducks indeed are better for the table, 

 but at its worst the white-eye itself is but little more rank and coarse. 

 This variability is undoubtedly due to its wide range of feeding. 



