THE POCHARDS. 5 



ing anywhere near one in the stillness of the night, can gener- 

 ally be recognised." 



Nest. Placed close to the water, and made of decayed 

 stems of rushes and dead leaves. 



Eggs. Eggs seven to nine in number, of a bright green 

 colour when fresh, but fading, after being blown, to greenish- 

 white. Axis, 2-3-2-4 inches; diam., 1-65-175. 



THE POCHARDS. GENUS NYROCA. 



Nyroca, Fleming, Phil. Zool. ii. p. 260 (1822). 



Type, N. nyroca (Giild.). 



The genus Nyroca, according to Count Salvadori, differs 

 from Netta in having the indentations not prominent on 

 the upper mandible. The bill does not widen out towards 

 the tip, and is not so broad or so short as in the next genus, 

 Fuligula. 



I. THE POCHARD. NYROCA FERINA. 



Anas feruia. Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 230 (1766). 

 Aythya ferina, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 103 (1852). 

 Fuligula ferina. Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 551, pi. 434 (1878); 



B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 130 (1883); Seebohru, Br. B. iii. 



P- 575 (1885); Saunders, ed. Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 413 



(1885); id. Man. Br. B. p. 429 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. 



Br. B. part xiii. (1890). 

 Nyroca ferina, Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 335 (1895). 



Adult Male. General colour above light grey, everywhere 

 finely vermiculated with wavy cross-lines of dull ashy, less dis- 

 tinct on the lower back, and absent on the rump and tipper 

 tail-coverts, which are black ; tail grey, minutely freckled with 

 dusky ; wing-coverts like the back, but rather more finely 

 freckled, these being less distinct on the greater series, which 

 are uniform grey except at the tips ; bastard-wing and primary- 

 coverts dusky ; primaries dusky-grey externally, blackish near 

 the tip of the inner webs, which are lavender-grey for the most 

 part, forming a " mirror " ; secondaries light grey, edged with 



