352 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



heard a female Pochard ou my pond utter a hoarse dissyllabic 

 croak, iuexpressible iu writing, the head at the same time 

 being thrown back till the occiput touched the bird between 

 the winsfs. 



FERRUGINOUS, or WHITE-EYED DUCK. 



Fuligula nyroca. 



This diminutive species, called also the Castaneous Duck, or 

 Nyroca Pochard, is a very irregular visitant to this country, 

 and can only be called an accidental straggler, appearing 

 occasionally from January to April. It breeds in Poland 

 and in the valley of the Danube, but more abundantly in 

 Turkestan and Cashmere. The nest is described as placed 

 among high rushes, at a short distance from the water, 

 composed of dry aquatic plants and flags, and lined with its 

 own down and a few feathers. It is a very expert diver. 

 Its food consists principally of vegetable matter, insects, 

 and small mollusks. 



I have heard of only two examples occurring in Sussex. 

 An adult male was shot in January a few years ago by the late 

 Mr. Dennett, of Woodmancote Place, on a pond near his 

 house, where I have lately seen it, but was unable to ascer- 

 tain the date more precisely. It was preserved by the late 

 Mr. Swaysland. A second example was shot from a pond 

 near the residence of Miss Simpson, of Fyning House, 

 Harting, by that larly's gamekeeper, Mr. Collins, and pre- 

 sented to Mr. Gordon, vicar of the above parish, who sent 

 it to Mr. Kerr, of Stackstead, Lancashire, by whom it was 

 identified as a young female of the Ferruginous Duck. 



The first mention of this species as British seems to have 

 been made by Pennant, who says in ' British Zoology ■* 



