432 RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 



it in the market at Rome ; it is also resident in Sicily and Sardinia. 

 It breeds in small numbers in Central and Southern Germany ; more 

 frequently along the valley of the Danube, and abundantly in some 

 parts of South Russia ; while in winter it is found throughout the 

 basins of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas. In Africa it 

 nests in many of the lakes to the north of the Sahara, though very 

 rare in Egypt : in Asia its summer-haunts are in Northern Persia 

 and Turkestan, but do not reach Siberia ; its winter-range extend- 

 ing to Northern and Central India, where thousands are sometimes 

 seen on large sheets of water. A young male, probably introduced, 

 was found in the New York market on February 2nd 1872. 



Toward the end of April or the beginning of May the nest is built 

 among rushes or on reedy islands in pools of moderately deep water ; 

 the eggs, 7-9 in number, being of a brilliant green colour, which 

 soon fades after they are blown : average measurements 2 "3 by i'6 in. 

 The food — obtained almost entirely by diving — consists of water- 

 weeds, frogs, small fish, insects &c. ; and the flesh of this bird is 

 generally held in high estimation. The call-note, seldom heard by 

 day, is a deep grating kurr^ but occasionally the male utters a sort 

 of whistle. Col. 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 gunshot. In confinement it does not breed freely, 

 but in 1879, although several birds of both sexes which were kept in 

 the same enclosure in the Zoological Society's Gardens had refused 

 to pair, yet hybrids between this species and the Antarctic Rosy- 

 billed Duck were produced. 



The adult male in spring has the beak crimson, with a white 

 nail ; irides reddish ; head, erectile crest, and upper neck chestnut ; 

 lower neck, breast, centre of abdomen, and lower back brownish- 

 black ; flanks white, with a tinge of salmon-pink ; mantle yellowish- 

 brown ; lesser coverts and a small speculum on the secondaries, 

 white ; inner secondaries grey ; quills and tail-feathers ash-brown ; 

 legs and toes vermilion-red ; webs almost black. In less mature 

 birds the soft parts are duller in colour. Length 22 in. ; wing 

 10 '5 in. The female has no crest, and the top of the head is 

 dark brown ; the cheeks and neck are greyish-white ; the upper and 

 under parts pale rufous to greyish-brown ; the point of the shoulder 

 and speculum dull white ; beak and legs dull red. Young drakes 

 at first resemble the females, but the crest and the red colour of 

 the bill soon become apparent. 



