132 ANATID.E. 



all birds of tlie cluck kind, and tlie bernacle, smell strongly when 

 he is skinning them, much more so than in frosty weather ; — 

 this applies, also, to gulls generally. The flesh looks much more 

 delicate to the eye during frost, the fat being white in cold weather, 

 and yellow, or even orange in some species, late in the spring. 

 He was once tempted by the delicate appearance of the flesh 

 of a gull during frost, to eat of it, and found it good. 



In the winter of 1847-48, a pochard was captured near 

 Wexford, when lying on its back upon the surface of the water, 

 and its feet in violent motion. When examined, it had no visible 

 mark of injury. The gentleman into whose possession this duck 

 came, saw it occasionally afterwards attacked so violently with 

 what he believed to be cramp, as to be entirely disabled. The 

 symptoms being precisely similar to those under wliich it was 

 originally taken, he considers that the bird was captured during 

 one of these fits."^ 



A wounded pochard refused to partake of oatmeal steeped 

 in water, and placed before him, but on his bill being dipped 

 into it, he quickly discovered his mistake, and thenceforth ate of 

 this food with avidity. I have remarked that these birds, which 

 were kept from time to time on the pond at the Falls, were of 

 a gentle quiet disposition. 



Audubon remarks that this species is " equally fond of salt and 

 fresh water" (vol. iv. p. 199). It frequents fresh-water much in 

 the north of Ireland, and has been several times, in December and 

 January chiefly, brought to me from Lough ISTeagh. It is partial to 

 Ballydrain Lake by day, as mentioned under Tufted Duck ; — Nov. 

 the 17th, 1833, was noted as early in the season for their appear- 

 ance here, when about thirty were seen in company with that 

 species. In the following month, both kinds were much more 



January, weighed, the former 2 lbs. 2 oz. ; the latter 1 lb. 10 oz. : the pochard was 

 in every respect considerably larger than the scaup ; its length was nineteen, that of 

 the scaup seventeen inches. 



The colour of the eyes of the pochard, according to Mr. Darragh, is, in young 

 females, dark brown; in old females, yellowish-brown. Young males, red and 

 yellow prettily mixed ; and in old males bright red. 



* Mr. J. Poole. 



