222 INDIAN DUOKS. 



or among roots, &c., it consists merely of a couple of handfuls of materials 

 lined with feathers and down. 



Morris says : — " The nest of the Pochard is made among rushes or other 

 coarse herbage, and is lined with feathers. Many nests are placed near 

 each other in suitable localities, such as osier beds or grassy places. '' 



The eggs are from eight or ten to twelve or thirteen in number and of 

 a bufF-white colour. 



Dr. Leverkiilin sends me the following interesting note from Sophia, 

 which confirms what other observers have said as to the high qualities of 

 the Pochard as a mother : — '"'' Nyroca ferina is a regular breeder in different 

 lakes in Germany, where I have sometimes taken its nest, and I also 

 ascertained the fact of its breeding on a swampy lake near Varna. The 

 female shows great anxiety concerning the safety of her eggs, and covers 

 the clutch Ijefore leavino- with some feathers from the bottom of the nest. 

 I found eight aud ten eggs in a nest/^ 



Hume describes the eggs thus : — "The eggs are very regular Ijroad 

 ovals ; the shell smooth, but dull and glossless. In colour they are a pale, 

 dingy, greenish drab, more or less, in most cases, tinged with yellow. They 

 average about 2"4: inches in length x 1'7 in breadth." 



The eggs in my collection are dull, rather dark, brownish drab, but 

 have little or no trace of either green or yellow in them, though they may 

 have had when fresh. In shape and texture they agree with Hume's 

 description, but one egg has a decided, though faint, gloss. My eggs 

 average about 2"2.5 x 1'7 inches. As with other Pochards' eggs, they 

 have a rather fragile shell. 



