DUCKS 83 



grey and white. Three of the secondaries on each side are 

 black, edged white. Forebreast greyish-pink. Rest of breast 

 and belly white. Upper and under tail-coverts mostly black. 

 Wing and tail quills dusky brown. In " eclipse " plumage 

 (July-October) the male is not unlike the female, but may be 

 distinguished by the speculum and the rufous ground of the 

 head and mantle, these parts being dusky brown with broad 

 rufous-buff edgings in the duck. The latter has the breast 

 pale chestnut-brown, grey edgings on the brown coverts. Belly 

 greyish-white. 



Nest. On moor and marsh, usually not far from lake or pond. 

 On the ground among heather, rushes, &c. Material : as the 

 preceding. 



Eggs. Usually 6-10. Creamy-white. Av. size, 2-16 x 1*52 in. 

 Laying begins April-May. One brood. 



Family: Anatidce. (d) Subfamily: Fidigulince 

 Diving-ducks 



167. Pochard, redheaded-pochard [Nyroca ferina ferina 

 (Linnaeus) ; Fuligula ferina (Linnaeus)]. Chiefly a winter 

 visitor and bird of passage. More often on fresh than salt 

 water. Breeds in Scotland and parts of England, chiefly E. 



Bird. Length 19 in. Recognised by the ash-grey speculum 

 or wing patch, and the broad lobe of the 

 hind toe. The drake has the head and 

 neck chestnut-red. Iris red. Beak black 

 with grey on the middle of the upper 

 mandible. The upper breast is black with 

 chestnut tinge, which colour forms a band 

 round the base of the neck and broadens 

 out on the upper back. Rump, upper and Fig. 97. 



under tail-coverts are black. Mantle and 



under-parts whitish, pencilled with fine grey wavy lines. In 

 "eclipse" (July- October) the head and neck are browner, and 

 the breast a dark pencilled grey. The duck has the head mostly 

 dull chestnut-brown, with some white on the sides. Back dark 

 brown mixed with greyish. Wing-coverts pencilled finely dark 

 grey on grey. Flanks dusky brown, rest of under-parts 

 brownish-white. Young birds resemble the duck, but are 

 darker beneath. 



Nest. On marshy ground in flags, rushes, and other aquatic 

 plants, It is composed of dead flags, &c., the duck's down being 

 added later. 



Eggs. Usually 6-11. Greenish-grey to greenish-brown. 



