AXATID^. 2 00 



The Rev. Charles Swainson, in his ' Provincial Xames of British Birds,' 

 states that the Scaup e;ets its name " from its feeding among broken oyster 

 and mussel shells, called in the north ' scaup.' " 



Pochard. Faligulaferina (Linn.). 



[Frosty-l3ack (male, on the Exe), Dun Curre, Cur AVigeon (female 

 and young).] 



A winter visitor, occurring in rather small numbei's, seldom ascending 

 the estuaries ; most frequently met with at Slapton Ley, where it is said 

 to be common in severe winters, and also at Plymouth. Very few now 

 occur on the Exe, and it is rare at the present day on the Kingsbridge 

 estuary. 



Although well known, the Pochard is far from common in Xorth 

 Devon. We have occasionally seen it on the Barnstaple river, and have 

 known examples brought into Barnstaple which had been shot on the 

 Braunton Marshes ; but it is, certainly, one of our rarer Devonshire fowl. 

 It is frequently met with on the South Cornish coast, according to Mr. 

 Eodd, and is considered an excellent bird for the table. On the Dorset 

 coast Mr. Mansel-Pleydell considered the Pochard the commonest of all 

 the AVi'.d Ducks, and of late years it has become a regular nesting species 

 in his county, a result due to the beneficial effects of the Bird Preservation 

 Acts. In Somerset this diving Duck is also fairly common, to be met 

 with during the Avinter on inland ponds, as well as upon the shallows on 

 the northern coast. We have frequently seen it on the bay at "Westou- 

 super-^faro, diving in the shallow muddy Avater, in company with Scaups 

 and other fowl. 



The Pochard does not go so far to the Xorth for the breeding-season 

 as some of our other Ducks, being mainly confined to the Xorth Central 

 portions of Europe. 



Its name seems to be connected with the colour of its head, perhaps 

 fancifully supposed to have some resemblance to a red-hot poker. In 

 some districts the bird is known as the " Poker" ; and in the jS^orth of 

 Ireland it goes by the names of the " Bull-headed " and " Great-headed 

 Wigeoii," from the trick the bird has of puffing out the feathers on the 

 head Avhile it is swimming on the water, making the head appear of 

 unnatural size. Mr. Cecil Smith states that the gamekeepers he Avas 

 aciiuaintcd Avith in his county persisted in calling this bird " tho 

 Wigeon." 



Spefniiienfl orourrctl at Plyinoiitli in 1S.').3, -TA, -.'")."), and -(»2 (B., MS No(ps) ; l.ST"), 

 -78, -7'.), -Hi (J. G.). An adult female was siiot tliero Aiimist 7tl), iSSf), with tlic tail 

 and wing- feathers Miueli worn and laded in colour (.J. (>., Znol. ISS."). p. ."jyH). A 

 male was obtained on Torbay, Deeeinber listh, 18'iU (A. von IE., Zool. ISTO, p. 2(),"i'.t). 

 One in KingitbrirlKO estuary, December IS'.H) (E. A. S. K.). Mr. Elliot shot two males 

 on Slapton Ley, .lanuary I8'.)l, and wounded birds have been known to remain there 

 nil the Mummer(R. P. N.). On the l']xe estuary a few were obtained in .lanuary and 

 Fel)ruary \X'>i), and one .January 17th, ]S,")i;. 1"|ic last wo liave seen were a male on 

 Pe'-emher l.'7th, )H7s, and a male and feuialo exposed fur sale in Exelei' du I'.illi and 

 2Glli December, l.s7'J. 



