RED-CRESTED POCHARD— FISHES 449 



after the manner of snipe. When standing thus with straight legs, and raised 

 throat and breast, it presents a somewhat stork-like appearance ; but it can 

 hardly be mistaken when flying with the neck stretched out in front and the 

 legs extended backwards. The flight is easy and the walk graceful. The 

 male hovers over the breeding-place with outstretched wings and expanded 

 tail, uttering his yodel-like song. In August and September this godwit generally 

 leaves for the interior of Africa, although many individuals often stay in the 

 south of Europe for the winter. In April and May it returns to the breeding- 

 district, which comprises temperate Europe and western Asia, the head-quarters 

 being perhaps in Poland. In length it measures 16 inches, and may be distinguished 

 by the long head, the flat forehead, long tail, and slightly upturned beak. Above, 

 the body is dark brown mottled with black, while below it is whitish ; there is a 

 conspicuous white wing-bar, the upper tail-coverts are white, and the tail feathers 

 black, except at the base. 



Red crested Among the many handsome members of the duck tribe, few are 



Pochard. more striking than the red-crested pochard (Fuligula rufina), which 

 mainly belongs to the fauna of south-eastern Europe and central Asia. In Persia 

 and India it is common, being especially numerous by the salt-lakes of the Kirghiz 

 desert and near the Caspian Sea. It straggles into England, generally in the 

 winter, and in Germany is met with so far north &s Mecklenburg, breeding in a 

 few localities in the south. It is seen more frequently during the spring migration 

 in March and April than during its autumn journey in October and November. 

 In length it measures about 21 inches. The crest, head, and upper part of the 

 neck are chestnut, the rest of the neck and breast blackish, the back pale 

 brown, the scapulars, flanks, and wing-speculum white, the beak crimson, with 

 a white nail, and the legs and feet bright orange. The female is much quieter 

 in colour, being pale brown with a darker forehead, greyish white cheeks and 

 throat, and dull red beak and legs. 



Eastern Europe is inhabited by a few reptiles and batrachians 

 Fishes 



unknown to central Europe, but of more importance are its fishes ; 



amongst these being one of the umbres, of which only two species are known, 



one inhabiting North America, the other (Umbra krameri) dwelling in the mud 



of the marshes in the valley of the Danube. The sturgeon is represented by 



several allied species in the same area, one of which, the hausen or giant sturgeon 



(Acipenser huso), lives in the Caspian Sea and its tributaries, ascending the 



Danube as far as Vienna. Less familiar are the smooth sturgeon (A. glabcr), the 



scherg (A. stellatua), the dick (A. schypa), and the wax-sturgeon (A. giteldenstccdti), 



the last of which yields more than a quarter of the isinglass and caviare exported 



from Russia. All these ascend the rivers for spawning purposes. The sterlet 



(A. ruthenus), so highly prized for its flesh, inhabits the rivers flowing into the 



Caspian, and only rarely enters the sea. 



vol. 1. — 29 



