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. 
Liggs. Usually 6-10. Creamy-white. Av. size, 2°16 x 1:52 in. 
Laying begins April-May. One brood. 
Family: Anatide. (d) Subfamily: Fuliquline— 
Diving-ducks 
167. Pochard, redheaded-pochard [Nyroca ferina ferina 
(Linneeus); Fuligula ferina (Linneeus)|. 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 19in. 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 
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 
rownish-white. Young birds resemble the duck, but are 
darker benvath. 
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, 
Higgs. Usually 6-11. Greenish-grey to greenish-brown, 
