lOJ 



POCHARD. 



FULIGULA FERINA {Linn.). 



Anas ferina, Linn. S. N. i. p. 203 (1766) ; Naum. xii. p. 21. 

 Aythya ferina, Macg. v. p. 103. 



Fnligula ferina, Hewitson, ii. p. 423 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 413 ; 

 Dresser, vi. p. 551. 



Le Milouin, French ; Tafel-Ente, Brand-Ente, German ; 

 Cabezon, Spanish. 



Under the names of Dunbird and Poker this bird is 

 well known in most parts of the British Islands as a 

 common autumnal visitor to our coasts, lakes, and 

 rivers ; but it is now a well-proved fact that a consider- 

 able number of Pochards annually breed in various 

 localities in the three kingdoms, and with the pro- 

 tection now afforded by law during the l«'eeding-season 

 it is probable that the species will rapidly increase and 

 multiply. 



The Pochard is a very powerful diver, and in the 

 winter months obtains its food chiefly from the bottom 

 of the water. In my own experience I have never seen 

 any considerable number of Pochards far away from 

 salt-water ; but in small parties or singly they may be 



