NYROCA FERINA 213 



extremely shy aud cautious and not easily approached. Though 

 occasionally to be found in large flocks, it is more often met with in 

 small parties of ten or twelve individuals, these being sometimes 

 composed solely of males. It swims and dives well, but its flight is 

 rather heavy. The notes of this Duck are not unlike those of the 

 common Pochard. Its food also resembles that of the preceding 

 species. 



The nest of the species, as mentioned by Canon Tristram, is not 

 unhke that of the Coot, and the eggs, seven to ten in number, as a 

 rule, as described by Salvin, are of a brilliant fresh green colour 

 when unblown, but lose their delicate tint when emptied aud dry. 



An example of this Duck, a young male, is said to have been found 

 in New York market on February 2nd, 1872. 



NYROCA FERINA (Linnaeus). 

 POCHAED. 



Anas ferina, Linn. Sijst. Nat. i, p. 203 (1766) ; Malherbe, Faune Orn. 



dc I'Alg. p. 37 (1855). 

 Nyroca ferina, Fleming, Phil, of Zool. ii, p. 260 (1822); Salvadori, Cat. 



Birds, Brit. Miis. xxvii, p. 335. 

 Aythya ferina, Loche, Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 393 (1867). 

 Fuligula ferina, Komig, J. /. 0. 1888, p. 296 ; id. J. f. 0. 1893, p. 101 ; 



Whiiakcr, Ibis, 1895, p. 105. 



Description.— Adult male, spring, from North Tunisia. 



Head and upper neck rich velvety-chestnut, becoming black on the lower 

 neck, mantle and breast ; back, scapulars, and the greater part of the upper 

 wing-surface pencilled with black and white ; rump and upper tail-coverts 

 blackish ; tail grey, fringed with white ; abdomen white, becoming grey on 

 the crissum, and finely vermiculated with blackish ; under tail-coverts 

 blackish. 



Iris orange-yellow ; bill black with a blue band across the middle ; feet 

 slate-colour. 



Total length 18 inches, wing 8, culmen 2, tarsus 1-20. 



Adalt female, head and neck reddish-brown ; back as in the male, 

 but darker, breast reddish-brown ; abdomen white, crissum and under tail- 

 coverts grey. 



