138: SYNOPSISVAND: ALPHABELICAL TN DES 
pencilled), tail dark grey-brown, and eyes golden red 
(whence synonym). The male has a pale blue beak, 
the female a black one. Flight: Rapid and strong 
(though the wings are small). Being very shy it often 
dives at once when disturbed, going a long way under 
water and can keep under for half a minute at a time. 
Food: Like that of other wild ducks, viz. weeds growing 
at the bottom of the water, soft-shelled fish, and other 
small fish when at the seaside. (Its name may be 
derived from a habit of “‘ poaching”’ or “ poking ’”’ its 
bill when feeding.) Feeds mostly at night. Flesh: 
Edible, considered a delicacy by some. Nest: April to 
June. Sztuated on the ground concealed amongst 
rushes, grasses, etc., and made of the same materials 
dried. The eggs, when the clutch is all laid, are covered 
with down from the parents’ breasts. Eggs : White, with 
a buff or green tinge. Generally ten to twelve. 
73) SEDGE WAKRBEER 
(Pages 59-65) 
Salicaria phragmitis (one of the Denttrostres, see 
Nightingale). A sleek little bird just 4 inches long, 
the head and back being coloured something like a 
sparrow, but with a greyish-brown streak over each 
eye, and the under part of the body being yellowish- 
grey. The head looks rather large for the size of the 
