56 



It is tolerably plentiful in Orkney, but has not been 

 seen in Shetland. It frequents the inland lakes 

 more than the sea-shore, and leaves these islands 

 early in the spring. It is extensively dispersed 

 over the continents of Europe and Asia, and not 

 less so over that of North America. A few have 

 been found breeding as far north as Iceland. The 

 nest is placed among reeds and thick herbage. The 

 eggs, from six to ten in number, are of a greenish 

 white colour. 



DUCK, COMMON POCHARD. 



ANAS FEKINA, Temm. 



The Pochards arrive on our coasts in the end of 

 October, when some betake themselves to marshes 

 and pools, the others remaining in the bays and 

 estuaries. It is found also in the Orkney and 

 Shetland Isles, in Denmark, in Sweden, and in 

 America, where they are common. It departs in 

 March and April, betaking itself to the Arctic 

 regions to breed, except a very few which are 

 said to remain in Norfolk and Yorkshire for that 

 purpose. The nest of the Common Pochard has 

 been seen in Holland, placed among the rushes or 

 other coarse herbage. The eggs, of a buffy white, 

 are from ten to twelve in number. 



