THE RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 345 



the same colour, broadened towards the tip, and with a black 

 nail ; irides dull yellow ; head, neck, and crest, black, with 

 purple and green reflections ; upper part and breast plain 

 black ; scapulars and sides of the back very minutely freckled 

 with black and grey ; primary quills black, some of them 

 white at the bases ; secondaries white at the middle, forming 

 the wing spot, and black at the tips ; tail dusky j wedge- 

 shaped, consisting of fourteen feathers ; lower part of the 

 breast and middle of the belly pure white ; flanks and vent 

 feathers black. Female and young dusky brown, when the 

 male is white, and without crest. 



THE RED-CRESTED POCHARD (Fuligula ril-fino). 



The red-crested pochard is a very beautiful duck, but in 

 Britain it can be regarded only as an occasional visitant. It 

 is a bird of the inland waters, and not of the sea ; and one 

 which was brought from Boston to London in 1821, was 

 found on fresh water in that neighbourhood, in company 

 with widgeons. For nearly two weeks previously there had 

 been very severe frost, by which, no doubt, the bird had been 

 driven from the Continent, though flocks of ten or a dozen 

 have been casually seen on the east of Kent. 



There is indeed a very discursive species, by no means un- 

 common in Italy in the winter, and ranging as far eastward 

 into Asia, as the Himalaya mountains. It has been known, 

 by name at least, to British Ornithologists, ever since the 

 days of Willoughby, but little is even now known of its 

 breeding places and nidification. 



The male has the bill and feet red, the nail of the former 

 white, and the webs of the latter black. The nail is pointed, 

 and projects considerably over the tip of the lower mandible. 

 The head and crest of silky feathers, which are considerably 

 produced and very handsome, are of a rich chestnut colour, 

 with purple reflections. The occiput, breast, and middle of 



