The Pochards. 313 



Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey thus cautions 

 the sportsman who is after Pochards : — 



" After a shot, never pass Pochards that 

 may appear nearly dead, in pursuit of 

 those more lively. Whilst you are chasing 

 the latter, the others will often revive and 

 disappear. Faihng to overtake the strong 

 cripples, you perhaps turn back, with the 

 consoling thought that the others are 

 easily to be found. Never was hope 

 more delusive : they are the hardiest of 

 fowl, and scarcely feel a blow that would 

 kill a Mallard." 



Although there are eggs of this Duck 

 in the British Museum which were taken 

 in Russia, I cannot find any account of 

 the breeding of this species either in 

 Russia or in any other part of Europe 

 except Great Britain. In England this 

 bird breeds in some localities where it is 

 carefully protected. I shall, therefore, 

 give a few notes regarding the breeding 

 of the Pochard in England. 



Mr. James H. Tuke, as quoted by Mr. 

 Hewitson, says : — " Whilst at Scarborough 

 about the middle of June last year, Mr. 

 Bean informed me that several pairs of 

 Red-headed Ducks, as the gamekeeper 

 called them, had been seen upon a piece 

 of water a few miles from Scarborough, 



