THE POCHARD. 31 



hoarse kind of croak like kr, kr, kr. The flight is rapid, 

 though its wings are small for its size, and are moved with 

 great rapidity and considerable noise. 



Pochards are good birds to keep in confinement or on 

 ornamental waters, as they get tame and readily pair with 

 other Ducks, especially the Tufted Duck. They feed in 

 company with Wild Ducks and other water-fowl, but 

 separate from any but their own kind if compelled to 

 take flight. Being accomplished divers, they seek their 

 food by tearing up branches of weeds from the bottom 

 of the lakes which they frequent. The food consists 

 principally of aquatic vegetable matter, and when on the 

 sea-coast, of Crustacea, mollusca, and small fish. 



Although the great majority of these birds breed in 

 much higher latitudes than our own country, no doubt some 

 few remain with us throughout the year, and are said to 

 breed regularly in Yorkshire, Dorsetshire, and some of the 

 midland counties ; they have also been known to breed in 

 Ireland, and Mr. Hewitson says that a small number re- 

 main through the summer in Holland, and rear their 

 broods on the borders of the inland meres so numerous in 

 that country, whence, most probably, most of those exposed 

 for sale in this country are obtained. 



Great numbers of Pochards are winter visitors only, 

 making their appearance about the first week in October, 

 and leaving again in the spring for their breeding stations 

 in the higher regions of the north. 



The nest, which is usually almost entirely concealed 

 by flags or coarse grass, is built of old dry flags and reeds, 

 and the eggs are covered with down from the parent bird's 

 breast. It is placed amongst high grass, rushes, or similar 

 coarse herbage, and the eggs vary in number from ten to 



