504 BIRDS OF SOMERSETSHIRE. 



shoots of water-plants, small frogs, insects and small 

 fry, spawn (when it can get it) of sea-fish, Crustacea 

 and Mollusca: when living on this latter diet its 

 flesh is not as good eating as it is at other times, 

 being then a little too like that of the Common 

 Scoter. 



A few of these birds are said to breed in some 

 counties in England. The nest is placed amongst 

 reeds, rushes and other coarse herbage, on the 

 borders of inland waters. Meyer says that in 

 localities that suit the species great numbers of 

 nests are placed near each other, although each nest 

 is placed out of sight of the others. I do not know 

 that the Pochard breeds in confinement, but I should 

 think it would do so so if it had suitable accom- 

 modation. My duck and drake certainly paired, 

 and I had great hopes of a brood, but none made its 

 appearance : I rather think the eggs must have been 

 laid in the water. 



In plumage the Pochard is rather a handsome 

 bird. The beak is lead-blue, except at the point and 

 at the base, which are black ; irides red ; the head 

 and neck are reddish chesnut, the breast and a 

 broadish collar on the back of the neck are black ; 

 the back, scapulars and tertials are white, minutely 

 pencilled all over with black ; the wing-coverts are 

 dark grey, minutely freckled with white ; the quills 

 are dusky, tinged with brown ; secondaries lighter, 

 tipped with white ; rump and upper and under 



