120 



it skims along the surface of the water, resting again a 

 few hundred yards ahead ; but it chiefly avoids capture by 

 diving. 



Voice. The male whistles, and both sexes utter a curious 

 alarm-note, which may be syllabled curre-curre-curre. 



Nest. The Pochard breeds in rather damp situations, 

 building its nest among the sedges and rushes, which skirt 

 the margins of ponds and swamps. The eggs, seven to ten, 

 or more in number, are dull greenish-yellow. 



In England, it has been found nesting in Norfolk, 

 Yorkshire, Lancashire, Dorsetshire, Hertfordshire, and 

 other localities (Saunders). 



In Scotland, the nest has been found in Ross-shire, 

 Moray, Perthshire, Fifeshire, Roxburghshire, in Tiree on 

 the Inner Hebrides ; also in the Orkneys (Buckley, ' Fauna 

 of the Orkneys'). 



With regard to Ireland, there seems as yet to be no 

 proof, though there is strong presumptive evidence that 

 this Duck has nested in the following counties : Kerry, 

 Tipperary, Westmeath, Meath, Sligo, Down, Antrim ; but 

 Mr. Ussher says, "my own researches, in many counties, 

 have been unsuccessful as regards the breeding of this bird " 

 (' Birds of Ireland,' p. 204). 



Many Pochards are occupants of our ornamental waters, 

 where they breed. Wild hybrids with the Ferruginous 

 Duck have been captured and recorded. 



Geographical distribution. Abroad, the Pochard breeds 

 over a large area of Temperate Europe and Asia, migrating 

 in winter beyond the latitude of our Isles to Southern 

 Europe, North Africa, Southern Asia, as far east as Japan. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Head and neck, warm 

 chestnut ; upper breast and back, black ; rest of back, finely 

 dusted with grey ; wings, chiefly grey, including speculum ; 

 primaries, brown ; lower breast and abdomen, greyish- 

 white ; tail and its coverts, nearly black. 



Adult male, post-nuptial or eclipse. Head brownish ; 

 breast streaked with grey ; otherwise resembles the male 

 nuptial plumage. 



Adult female nuptial Head, neck, and breast, dull 

 brown; chin, whitish; back, breast and abdomen, deeper 

 and duller in colour than in the male. 



