120 ANATIDA 
it skims along the surface of the water, resting again a 
few hundred yards ahead ; but it chiefly avoids capture by 
diving. 
Voice.—The male whistles, and both sexes utter a curious 
alarm-note, which may be syllabled curre-curre-curre. 
Nest.—The Pochard breeds in rather damp situations, 
building its nest among the sedges and rushes, which skirt 
the margins of ponds and swamps. ‘The eggs, seven to ten, 
or more in number, are dull greenish-yellow. 
In England, it has been found nesting in Norfolk, 
Yorkshire, Lancashire, Dorsetshire, Hertfordshire, and 
other localities (Saunders). 
In Scotland, the nest has been found in Ross-shire, 
Moray, Perthshire, Fifeshire, Roxburghshire, in Tiree on 
the Inner Hebrides; also in the Orkneys (Buckley, ‘ Fauna 
of the Orkneys’). 
With regard to Ireland, there seems as yet to be no 
proof, though there is strong presumptive evidence that 
this Duck has nested in the following counties :—Kerry, 
Tipperary, Westmeath, Meath, Shgo, Down, Antrim; but 
Mr. Ussher says, ‘‘my own researches, in many counties, 
have been unsuccessful as regards the breeding of this bird” 
(‘ Birds of Ireland,’ p. 204). 
Many Pochards are occupants of our ornamental waters, 
where they breed. Wild hybrids with the Ferruginous 
Duck have been captured and recorded. 
Geographical distribution.—Abroad, the Pochard breeds 
over a large area of Temperate Europe and Asia, migrating 
in winter beyond the latitude of our Isles to Southern 
Europe, North Africa, Southern Asia, as far east as Japan. 
DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 
PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial.—Head and neck, warm 
chestnut; upper breast and back, black ; rest of back, finely 
dusted with grey; wings, chiefly grey, including speculum ; 
primaries, brown; lower breast and abdomen, greyish- 
white ; tail and its coverts, nearly black. 
Adult male, post-nuptial or eclipse.—Head brownish ; 
breast streaked with grey; otherwise resembles the male 
nuptial plumage. 
Adult female nuptial—-Head, neck, and breast, dull 
brown; chin, whitish; back, breast and abdomen, deeper 
and duller in colour than in the male. 
