BIRDS OF THE STREAMS 91 



white, ending with a black bar, to which succeeds a 

 green speculum tipped with black. Wings and tail 

 dark brown. Breast white ; under parts grey ; flanks 

 pencilled with dark grey. Bill bluish lead-colour. Legs 

 and feet dark brown. Length 18 in. Female : smaller, 

 and mottled with greyish brown above ; speculum 

 greyer green ; under parts mottled with buffish white. 

 Young, like female. 



Language. A shrill whistle of two syllables, like 

 " whee-oh." The female utters a kind of croak. 



Habits. Very shy and wary, and feeding both by 

 day and by night. Like the Ducks already treated, 

 it is a rapid flier, and feeds on the surface, submerging 

 the head and neck. It can also dive, but does not do 

 so from choice. Very gregarious. It grazes much like 

 a Goose. 



Food. Aquatic plants, grass, &c. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. In tuft of rushes, grass, heather, &c. 



Materials. Dry grass and reeds, lined with sooty 

 brown down tipped with white. 



Eggs. Seven to ten or more. Creamy white, and 

 oval in shape. 



POCHARD (Fuligula ferina). 



Chiefly a winter visitor but partially resident. Breeds 

 more or less commonly in Norfolk, Lincolnshire, York- 

 shire, Lancashire, and Dorsetshire, and in other counties 

 in England, Scotland, and Ireland where suitable. 



Haunts. Chiefly shallow inland waters where bottom 

 is weedy. 



