108 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



pressed, and placed far behind ; the feet and 

 webs large ; and the hind toe furnished with a 

 lobe. The neck is comparatively short, as are 

 the wings also ; and the keel of the sternum is 

 shallow. They are exceedingly expert divers, 

 and obtain their food at a great depth below the 

 surface of the water. Of these, the pochard, or 

 dun bird, is perhaps the best known and the 

 most in esteem as an article of luxury for the 

 table ; indeed it is nearly allied to the celebrated 

 American species, the canvas backed duck, which 

 has long been in such repute with Transatlantic 

 epicures. 



Pochards are more frequently found in decoys 

 with mallard, teal and wigeon, than any other of 

 the marine ducks ; but from their greater shyness, 

 and propensity to dive back through the mouth 

 of the pipe at the slightest alarm, they not only 

 effect their own escape, but frequently disturb 

 the other birds already congregated there, and 

 are consequently regarded as unwelcome visitors 

 by the fowler. 



The decoys of Lincolnshire have for ages been 

 celebrated, and several establishments still exist 

 in that county ; although from the recent drainage 

 of the fens, they have been in a great measure 

 shorn of their honours ; and in process of time 

 like so much that is still highly prized by the 



