95 



CHAPTER V. 



Diving Ducks, their Mode of Feeding The Pochard Ferruginous 

 Duck Red-crested Pochard Scaup Tufted Duck Golden- 

 eye Buffel-head Common Scoter Velvet Scoter Surf Scoter 

 Eider Duck Long-tailed Duck. 



THE Diving Ducks, when feeding in shallow water, 

 do not unfold their wings, but search about the 

 bottom, head down and tail up, in a nearly per- 

 pendicular position. In two or three feet of water 

 they work their feet so vigorously to retain this 

 attitude, that they cause a violent bubbling when 

 the surface is still. This is very noticeable in the 

 Pochard and Tufted Duck. Tufted Duck can walk 

 and run nimbly, the Scaup and Pochard being much 

 less active on their legs. 



All Divers and deep-water feeding fowl, such 

 as Scaup, Pochard, Goldeneye, and Tufted Duck, 

 require a far harder blow to kill them than the sur- 

 face feeders, such as Duck, Wigeon, Teal, and Pin- 

 tail ; their feathers being so much thicker, and their 

 down closer and more abundant. 



THE POCHARD (Fuligula ferina\ out of the water, 

 is a large and heavy bird ; you have only to approach 

 them when swimming, to learn how small they can 

 then appear ; you may perhaps view a black line of 

 these ducks some half a mile away.* It is a chance 



* On the lake of Castle Gregory, near Brandon Head, co. Kerry, 

 famous for its Swans, I have seen fully three thousand Pochard to- 

 gether, intermixed, here and there, with Scaup and Goldeneyes. 



