CURRES AND SHORT-WINGED FOWL 105 



Sometimes they are captured in small quantities by snares 

 placed along their grass-beds, under water, and in another 

 manner by the assistance of a net stretched on lofty poles, 

 which is made to rise suddenly and take the pochards in 

 their flight. This method of fowling was formerly practised 

 in Essex, and is referred to in Daniel's Rural Sports article, 

 " Pochard," also in the Moor and Marsh shooting volume of 

 the Badminton Library, p. 186. Although perhaps effective, 

 it seems almost as unsportsmanlike a proceeding as the 

 pegging of nets at the bottom of the sea, a usual practice 

 in the tidal waters on the other side of "the silver 

 streak." 



Some years a few pochards stay in Broadland to breed, 

 which can be verified at Lord Walsingham's estate ; and the 

 author once shot a young one at the evening flight on the 

 1st of August 1878, some ten miles inland near Barnby 

 Broad in the Waveney Valley. 



Most wildfowlers know the taste of pochards when in 

 good condition. The Rev. R. Lubbock (in his Fauna of 

 Norfolk, page 111) says : " This is the best wildfowl for 

 the table of all the Anatidoe; it has the honour of a 

 near relationship to the celebrated canvasback of America, 

 which has its name, Valisneria, from a particular grass 

 on which it feeds, besides being there found in its 

 company." 



As to the reference to the canvasback duck, it is believed 

 that it derives its flavour from feeding on wild celery. 



Another habit distinct from the long-winged species is, 

 that "curres" pack whilst resting and spread out when 

 feeding, room being necessary for their diving operations, 

 whereas it is just the contrary with long- winged fowl, which 

 on a flowing tide gather greedily round the choicest spots. 

 Therefore, in punting to them with a swivel entirely different 

 tactics are adopted to those exercised when punting to 

 " surface feeders." 



Scaups are similar in their habits to pochards, excepting 

 the latter are chiefly fresh water frequenters and vegetarians, 



