98 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



aware of their inability to progress ashore in an 

 emergency as can Duck. In frost Pochards remain 

 well-conditioned, for their food, lying below the sur- 

 face, is not affected by the weather. They will not, 

 however, obtain this so easily if the shallows be 

 frozen. They are unable to feed well in very deep 

 water, and edge along shore if such is the case. 



When a belt of ice, caused by most severe weather, 

 extended some distance from the shore, I have seen 

 Pochard and Scaup very tame and starved, mere 

 skin and bone. They do not leave the water in 

 search of food as Duck do, or feed on the ooze. 

 Their only sustenance is obtained by diving. The 

 change in their habits of caution, and weight, 

 effected by such a frost as this, is very rapid. I 

 have several times found Scaup and Pochard frozen 

 and dead underneath the ice, and within twenty 

 yards of an open channel. Whether they were 

 puzzled on rising against the ice and so drowned, 

 or starved to death, I cannot say. 



The Pochard is closely allied to the Canvas-back 

 of America, and, when shot on fresh water, is of a 

 delicate flavour. When killed in salt or brackish 

 water, it is not a good bird for the table far 

 from it. 



The call of the Pochard is a low and not clear 

 whistle. This bird very seldom nests in Ireland. 

 I have heard of but two instances of its doing so. 

 My old friend, and ofttimes fellow-shooter, Mr. 

 Spaight, of Derry Castle, Tipperary, saw a " Red- 

 headed Diver " (i.e. a Pochard), with twelve young 

 ones, in Lough Derg, in the summer of 1880. This 

 gentleman could not be mistaken, for he has lived 



