NYROCA FEKINA, 221 



during the rains, watch one or nioro any day gottino- up off the maidan 

 there, first expanding its huge wings and then going oflt' in ungainly strides 

 until the wind worked against and under its broad sails, when a lusty kick 

 or two shot it off the ground. 



On land, too, Pochards are very clumsy and slow, though they walk 

 well enough when [)ushed to it. 



Principally night-t'eeders, they also feed throughout the day, except in 

 the hottest hours, where they are not interfered with. Hume once or twice 

 caught them feeding on wild rice on land, but their feeding thus is, I should 

 think, quite exceptional, and nearly all their diet is one obtained from fairly 

 deep water amongst roots and similar things. 



Normally they would appear to be neither very shy nor yet very tame, 

 but it takes very little shooting to make them most decidedly the former ; 

 and then, owing to their keeping so much in the centre of the water they 

 frequent, they are by no means easy to get within shot of. 



I do not remember ever to have heard the Pochard utter any sound 

 other than that characterised by Hume and other writers as ^^Kvrr-k-urrJ'^ 

 It is like that of the White-eye, but harsher and louder. 



Latham, in his ' Synopsis of Birds,^ says that it " has a hissing voice. 

 The flight is rapid and strong ; the flocks have no particular shape in 

 flying, but are indiscriminate." 



This flying en masse, and not in line or V-shape, would appear to be 

 typical of all the true Pochards. 



The Pochard breeds extensively over Europe and even in Northern 

 Africa, in Algiers. It has also been reported as breeding in Egypt, but 

 probably by mistake. It also breeds in the western half of North ( Central 

 Asia. 



They make their nest beside the water — generally right at the 

 edge in amongst long grass, reeds, or bushes, and sometimes actually in 

 the water itself. Any piece of water would seem to serve the bird's 

 ])urpose, as long as there is sufficient cover — it requires this fairly thick 

 and plentiful, — nor would it seem to mind whether the water is fresh, salt, 

 or brackish. 



The nest itself is a very slight structure, composed of the usual materials 

 employed by ducks, i.e. grass, rushes, weeds, «fcc. ; when placed actually in 

 the water, it is of necessity somewhat more bulky and better }iut together 

 than at other times, but e\'en then it is more flimsy and rough than tliat of 

 most ducks. 



When {)laccd, as it often is, in some hollow or depression in the ground. 



