The Confessions of a Poacher. 41 



and in hard weather our takes were tremen- 

 dous. Another of the wild ducks which 

 visited us was the pochard or dunbird. We 

 mostly called it " poker " and " redhead," 

 owing to the bright chestnut of its neck and 

 head. It is somewhat heavily made, swims 

 low in the water, and from its legs being 

 placed far behind for diving it is very awkward 

 on land. In winter the pochard was abundant 

 on the coast, but as it was one of the shyest of 

 fowl it was always difficult to approach. If 

 alarmed it paddles rapidly away, turning its 

 head, and always keeping an eye to the rear. 

 On account of its wariness it is oftener netted 

 than shot. The shore-shooters hardlv ever 



j 



get a chance at it. We used to take it in the 

 creeks on the marsh, and, as the matter is 

 difficult to explain, I will let the following 

 quotation tell how it was done : 



" The water was surrounded with huge nets, 

 fastened with poles laid flat on the ground 

 when ready for action, each net being, perhaps, 

 sixty feet long and twenty feet deep. When 

 all was ready the pochards were frightened off 



D2 



