THE POCHARD 
NYROCA FERINA 
LocaL names in surrounding counties: ‘ Dunbird,” 
“* Red-headed Dunbird ” (Essex). 
Status 1n British AviraunaA: Best known as a common 
winter visitor, but breeds locally in many parts of England, 
Scotland, and Ireland. 
RapiaL DisTrRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 
Paut’s: ‘The Pochard nests in some numbers every year 
at the Tring Reservoirs, in Hertfordshire, some thirty 
miles only from the Metropolis. It is also found on 
Virginia Water, some twenty-three miles from London, 
but I am unable to say whether it breeds there. The 
bird also nests commonly in South Norfolk. It is not 
surprising, therefore, that the Pochard visits many of the 
Metropolitan waters during winter, and may sometimes 
be seen upon them in considerable numbers. Flocks 
of this Duck may be seen in winter on the Penn Ponds 
in Richmond Park and it is a fairly frequent visitor to 
Wanstead. Pochards also resort to Kingsbury Reser- 
voir, the Welsh Harp, Osterley, Wimbledon Park, and 
various sheets of water in North Surrey and Kent. 
I am of opinion that individuals of this species from 
time to time consort with the wild-fowl on the lakes 
in the various London parks. During migration 
numbers must actually cross over the Metropolis, and 
are doubtless tempted to alight in these localities by 
their half-wild congeners. 
The migratory Pochards that winter in our islands 
only reach them in October, and leave them in March 
and April. ‘The Pochard belongs to the Diving Ducks 
(Fuliguling), a sub-family of the Anatida, distinguished 
by having a pendent lobe or membrane attached to the 
hind toe, and the tarsi are scutellated in front. All 
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