■P" 



314 THE COMPLETE WILDFOWLER 



increase, and may be found in a certain number of favoured 

 localities throughout England and Scotland. In Ireland, 

 where it is fairly abundant during the winter, it has only been 

 known to nest on a few occasions. 



The note of the male is a low whistle, but both sexes utter 

 an alarm-note, which may be syllabled as "curre." 



The adult male in summer dress has the head and neck 

 rich chestnut ; the breast and upper parts brownish black, the 

 latter being finely freckled with grey. Under parts greyish 

 white. Bill black, with a broad band of slate-grey across it. 

 Legs bluish grey. In its eclipse plumage the head becomes 

 much browner, and the chest is brown, faintly barred with 

 lighter. The female has the head, neck, and chest dull brown ; 

 the chin whitish, the rest of the plumage being like the male, 

 but duller. The young resemble the female. Length about 

 18 in. ; wing 8*25 in. 



RED-CRESTED POCHARD 



Fuligula rufina {Pallas) 



The Red-Crested Pochard, whose nesting home is in South- 

 Eastern Europe, though it also nests sparingly in the Rhone 

 Delta and Spain, is only a rare irregular visitor to these islands, 

 the examples chiefly coming from Norfolk, where as recently 

 as 1906 a flock of eight appeared, and needless to say were 

 soon all shot. 



It is a much larger bird than the Common Pochard, and 

 may be distinguished by its rufous crest, red bill, and legs, 

 though differing also in many other particulars. Length about 

 21 in. ; wing 10*5 in. 



FERRUGINOUS DUCK 



Fuligula nyroca [Giildenstddt) 

 This species has been seen in this country on a good many 

 occasions, though some of the examples may have been 



