572 BUITISH BIRDS. 



Caspian Seas, and breeds throughout Turkestan and in Cashmere (where it 

 is for the most part a resident), migrating through Afghanistan (where a 

 few remain to breed) to winter in India and North Burma. It has no 

 ally with Avliich it is likely to be confused. 



By far the best account of the life-history of the White-eyed Pochard is 

 to be found in Hume and MarshalFs ' Game Birds of India/ a work which 

 abounds in careful field-notes on the winter habits of so many of our Briti!>.li 

 birds. The White-eyed Pochard loves to frequent weedy lakes and br-oads, 

 where the water is moderately deep and where there is plenty of cover, 

 It is also sometimes found on slow-running rivers, and even small ponds 

 and marshes, where the banks are clothed with tangled vegetation. Few 

 Ducks are more shy and retiring. It is seldom seen in the open water, 

 being excessively fond of cover, skulking amongst the reeds and rushes, and 

 only rising when absolutely compelled. It is so fond of hiding amongst the 

 aquatic vegetation that not even the incessant firing of the sportsmen will 

 drive it from its safe retreat. It is occasionally seen in flocks, but more 

 often in pairs, and is repeatedly flushed singly. When disturbed it rises 

 with some difficulty, and always by preference against the wind. When 

 flushed from the water it rises in a clumsy way, striking the surface with 

 its feet ; but Avhen disturbed from the reeds it flies oft' like a Partridge with 

 a slow straight flight, and often drops suddenly after going a short distance. 

 Its flight is moderately swift. It walks rather clumsily on the land, and 

 seldom goes far from the Avater^s edge, running in a very shuffling manner. 

 It swims with great rapidity, and dives with marvellous agility. 



The White-eyed Pochard is almost omnivorous in its diet. It feeds on 

 leaves, stems, roots, and seeds of aquatic plants, on small freshwater shells, 

 and on insects, worms, grubs, and small fishes. Sometimes it may be seen 

 swimming about nibbling at the herbage, or picking the small shells and 

 insects from the leaves of the water-plants; but it is continually diving and 

 bringing up bunches of slimy weed, which it eats on the surface. Sometimes 

 it remains under water for nearly two minutes, but generally only stays 

 down from forty to fifty seconds. It feeds by preference during the day ; 

 but when it frequents open water it retires at dusk to its feeding-grounds, 

 sleeping in the daytime. Hume describes the note of the White-eyed 

 Pochard as something like that of the Pochard, a harsh kirr, here, kirr. 



The breeding-season of the White-eyed Pochard is in June in Cashmere ; 

 and so abundantly does it nest there, that boatloads of its eggs are gathered 

 and sold. In Algeria it breeds in June and July ; but Irby says that in 

 Southern Spain it begins to breed about the end of Ajn-il, and in the valley 

 of the Danube it lays from the middle of May onwards. Incubation lasts 

 thirty days. The nest is generally placed amongst aquatic vegetation, 

 sometimes on the banks, and sometimes floating in the stagnant water, 

 supported by masses of fallen plants. At other times it is placed on a 



