THE POCHARDS. 



THE Pochards form a large group of 

 Ducks which from their peculiar habits 

 are termed Diving Ducks. Their con- 

 formation especially fits them for moving 

 under water, their legs being placed 

 further back than in the ordinary Ducks, 

 and the toes being of great length as 

 compared with the tarsus. The lobe on 

 the hindtoe is also of much larger size 

 than in the surface-swimming Ducks. 



The Pochards are widely distributed, 

 but there is no species likely to be found 

 in India in addition to the four species 

 here noticed. The Pochards differ from 

 the Scaup Ducks in having a more slender 

 bill, and in having quite a different pattern 

 of colour on the primaries. 



The Pochards occurring in India may 

 be divided into two sections. The first, 

 Netta, containing only the Red-crested 

 Pochard, may be known by the following 

 characters : both sexes have an ample 

 crest; the bill is entirely or largely red, 

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