ANATIDyt;. 



429 



"^^v^^ ^ ^^^M^ 



THE POCHARD. 



Fl'LI(;ula ferina (Linnaeus). 



With this species we begin the FiiUgidinie or Diving Ducks : a 

 tolerably natural sub-family, consisting of species which have a 

 conspicuous membranous lobe to the hind toe ; most of them being 

 inhabitants of salt-water during a great part of the year, while all 

 obtain their food by diving. The Pochard — also known by the 

 names Dun-bird, Red-headed or Red-eyed Poker — is in the main 

 a cold-weather visitor to this country, appearing early in October 

 and leaving again in spring; but a tolerable number remain to breed 

 on some of our inland waters, where, owing to efficient protection, 

 they appear to be on the increase. Such is the case at Merton and 

 in other parts of Norfolk, at Hornsea Mere in Yorkshire, in 

 Lancashire, Dorsetshire, and some localities which need not be 

 named. In Scotland it is generally distributed, except in the Outer 

 Hebrides ; and Mr. Harvie-Brown informs me that it nests on a loch 

 near Doune, and in Fifeshire. In Ireland it is abundant in winter, 

 while it has nested in cos. Sligo and Antrim, as well as on Loughs 

 Derg and Beg. 



The Pochard is a rare wanderer to the Faeroes and Iceland, nor 

 is it common in any part of Scandinavia ; though in Russia it 



