The Pochards. 331 



I can find nothing of any interest 

 regarding this Duck in the writings 

 of authors who have treated of the 

 birds of Eastern Asia. Its habits how- 

 ever, are not in the least Hkely to vary 

 in any important particular from those 

 of the Western White-eyed Pochard. 

 Mr. F. Finn has kept some of these 

 Ducks in captivity in Calcutta. He 

 writes : — " As to the habits of this Duck 

 I have little to say. In general appear- 

 ance it is lighter and less ' dumpy ' than 

 its near ally ; the head and neck and 

 general shape are less Fuliguline than in 

 that species, and recall a Mallard some- 

 what. It of course swims and dives 

 excellently, and is a less clumsy walker 

 than the Common White-eye. The male 

 has a curious habit of contracting its neck 

 and jerking it backwards in a curve — no 

 doubt a pairing gesture." 



This species resembles the Western 

 White-eyed Pochard in the general pattern 

 of its plumage. The difference lies in 

 the colour of the head and neck. In 

 the male of the Eastern species these 

 parts are of a deep black, beautifully 

 glossed with green and purple; there is 

 the same white spot on the chin. 



In the female of the Eastern species, 



