344 NATATORES. 



birds are easily tamed, and feed readily upon vegetable 

 substances. 



THE WHITE-EYED POCHARD (Fuligula niJTOCO). 



This species of pochard is not quite so common as either of 

 the former. When found it is usually on the fresh waters, 

 but at no great distance from the sea. It is about the same 

 length as the scaup, but not so heavy a bird ; and the white 

 irides are alone sufficient to distinguish it. Feet and bifl 

 bluish, the latter rather produced, and with a black nail. 

 Head, neck, sides, and breast, rust colour, with a darker 

 collar of the same, and a spot of white on the chin. Back 

 and wing coverts black, with purple reflections, and small 

 obscure reddish spots; primary quills dusky, secondaries 

 white at the bases and black at the tips, forming a wing 

 spot of white and black. Tail dusky brown, containing 

 fourteen feathers. The female has the back dusky and the 

 head brown. 



THE TUFTED POCHARD (Fuligula cristcita). 



This species, which gets its trivial name from a pendent 

 crest about two inches in length, that hangs over the nape in 

 the male, is much more common than the last mentioned ; 

 and may be regarded as a pretty regular winter visitant in 

 the southern parts of the country. Very little is known of 

 its haunts in the breeding season ; but as, in some parts 

 both of Europe and America, it is found upon the fresh 

 waters inland in the autumn, and near the shores in the 

 spring, it is probably an inland breeder. With us it remains, 

 on fresh water chiefly, as late in the season as March ; and 

 as many of the analogous genera are known to breed about 

 that time, or not much later, the probability is that its 

 breeding places are at no very great distance. Length about 

 a foot and a half, weight twenty-six ounces, legs black, bill 



