292 ANATID^. 



Fuligula nyroca (G-iildenst.). The White-eyed Pochard. 



Aythya nyroca (Gilld.), Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 813; Hume, Rough 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 969. 



The "White-eyed Pochard or Ferruginous Duck breeds, I believe, 

 in some localities in the plains of India ; and in Sind, where it 

 swarins during the cold weather, I was informed that it remains 

 during the whole year. I have never, however, succeeded in find- 

 ing a nest, or obtaining any reliable information as to one being 

 found in the plains. 



In the lakes in Cashmere they breed most abundantly, so abun- 

 dantly that boat-loads of their eggs are brought into the Sirinug- 

 ger market during the season. 



They lay in June, and, according to my native collector, who ex- 

 amined a vast number of their nests, build a moderate-sized nest 

 of dry rush and sedge in amongst rushes, reeds, and water-weeds, 

 sometimes on the ground and sometimes more or less floating and 

 supported on masses of water-plants. The interior of the nest is 

 composed of rather finer materials, and the eggs are generally 

 more or less intermixed with feathers and down. 



Ten was the largest number of eggs found in any nest. 



The eggs of this species are at once distinguished from those of 

 any other Duck laying within our limits with which I am ac- 

 quainted, by their well-marked, though delicate, cafe-au-lait tint, 

 which, however, has often a faint greenish tinge. In shape they 

 are commonly very regular and perfect ovals, moderately broad as 

 a rule, but occasionally considerably elongated and slightly com- 

 pressed towards the large end. The shell is very smooth and fine, 

 but it has very little gloss. 



In length the eggs vary from 1*9 to 2*2 in length, and from 1*4 

 to 1*54 in breadth ; but the average of a large series is 2'1 by 1*49. 



solitary babool bush, growing on an extensive tract of salt marsh, some seven 

 or eight miles N. of Ormarra, called Moorputty, and consisted, according to 

 the account of the native who found it, of a collection of fine twigs formed 

 into a solid pad with a few pieces of down as a lining, and measuring eight or 

 nine inches in diameter. 



" The eggs, eight in number, and of a delicate cream-colour, were taken on 

 the 19th June, 1878. I have carefully compared them with eggs of the 

 Marbled Duck, and find that they agree exactly, both in size, colour, and 

 texture. They are certainly not Garganey's eggs, being too large, and I know of 

 no other Duck inhabiting that district they could possibly belong to except 

 the present species. 



"They vary in size from 1-8 to 1'9 in length, and from 1-35 to 1/43 in 

 breadth." 



