812 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



minent; tail short and rounded, the feathers narrow and some- 

 what rigid. 



This genus comprises two forms, one of which has been separated 

 as a sub-genus. 



The birds of the first group are large Ducks, with the back 

 usually finely undulated, and some have hence been called 

 Canvas -backs. 



968. Aythya ferina, Linnaeus. 



Anas apud Linnaeus — Blyth, Cat. 1785— -Jerdon, Cat. 389 — 

 Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 368. 



The Red-headed Pochard. 



Descr. — Male, head and neck bright chesnut-red ; upper part 

 of the back black ; middle and lower back, wing-coverts, and 

 scapulars white, with numerous fine undulating black lines ; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts black ; tail dark ashy-brown ; primaries 

 deep dusky-brown ; secondaries bluish-grey ; breast black ; ab- 

 domen whitish, faintly undulated like the back, the lines becoming 

 darker towards the vent ; under tail-coverts black. 



Bill bluish-grey, the tip and base black ; irides orange-yellow ; 

 legs bluish-grey. Length 19 inches ; Aving 9 ; extent 30 ; tail 2^ ; 

 bill at front 2 ; tarsus 1^. 



The female has the crown, nape, and sides of the neck, and the 

 upper part of the back, reddish-brown ; the back as in the male, 

 but the lines less distinct ; throat and forepart of the neck white, 

 mixed with reddish ; breast reddish-brown, mottled with white ; 

 the middle of the abdomen greyish-white. 



This Pochard appears to be more abundant in Western India than 

 in Bengal, but occurs throughout the whole country in small parties, 

 generally on the larger and more open tanks. 



It inhabits Northern Europe and Asia, and breeds among reeds 

 and plants, laying twelve or thirteen greenish-white eggs. 



The American representative is now considered distinct, A. 

 Americana, Bonap. ; and there is, besides, in North America, the 

 A. valisneria, or Canvas-back, said to be the best of all the Ducks 

 of the New Continent. 



