OD^w 



Adult Male in winter (London market, 26th December). Entire head and upper neck rich red, almost 

 copper- red ; lower neck, fore part of the back, and upper breast black ; back, wing-coverts, scapulars, 

 and short secondaries white, clearly and distinctly vermiculated with black; the lower back tinged 

 with greyish, and gradually becoming deep black on the rump and upper tail-coverts ; tail blackish 

 brown with a grey tinge ; primary quills light brown, broadly tipped with blackish brown ; underparts 

 white, finely and somewhat indistinctly vermiculated with blackish grey, the lower abdomen washed 

 with grey, and gradually merging into black on the under tail-coverts ; bill black, with a broad band 

 of dull light blue ; legs dark lead-blue ; iris bright yellow, brownish yellow in younger birds. Total 

 length about 18 inches, culmen 2"2, wing 8"4, tail 2'8, tarsus 1"45. 



Adult Female (near London, 17th February). Head and neck dull reddish brown, but dirty white at the 

 base of the bill and on the chin and upper throat, and marked with dull white on the sides of the head ; 

 back dark brown, the feathers at the tips here and there greyish white, vermiculated with blackish; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts black, indistinctly vermiculated with greyish ; primaries as in the male ; 

 secondaries dark ashy grey ; breast dark reddish brown, the feathers here and there narrowly edged 

 with white ; abdomen white, marked here and there with brown, becoming brownish grey on the lower 

 abdomen and under tail-coverts ; bill duller than in the male ; legs dull dark lead-grey. In size 

 usually less than the male. 



Male in summer. Resembles the old female, but has the head and neck more reddish brown in tinge, the 

 rump and upper tail-coverts darker, and the feathers on the back with larger light tips and more clearly 

 vermiculated. 



Young in down (fide Naumann). Head and neck dull rusty brown; upper parts dull blackish brown; 

 underparts dirty yellowish white; bill and feet light bluish ; iris grey. 



The Pochard, or Dunbird, is found generally throughout Europe, ranging southward into North 

 Africa, and eastward as far as China. 



In Great Britain it is by no means rare ; it breeds in several localities in England, and in 

 many parts of Great Britain is quite a common bird in the winter season, when large numbers are 

 often to be seen in the markets. Mr. Mansel-Pleydell says that it is one of the commonest Ducks 

 found in Dorsetshire. Dr. Pulteney says that they are frequent in Poole, and in hard winters 

 are seen up the country on the fresh waters. As below stated, it breeds in Dorsetshire, Norfolk, 

 and Yorkshire ; but Mr. Cordeaux says (B. of Humber Distr. p. 171), it is " by no means common 

 on the Humber. In severe winters I have met with specimens in our freshwater ponds and 

 drains ; but we always consider it a rare Duck, and it is seldom killed by any of our numerous 

 gunners. The specimens I have obtained during the last ten years are either females or young 

 birds of the year, the mature male being quite exceptional. This species is occasionally met 

 with in the autumn and winter on Croxby Lake and other inland waters in North Lincolnshire." 

 Mr. Hancock states (B. of Northumb. & Durh. p. 156), "it is a not uncommon winter visitant, 

 though I have reason for believing that it occasionally breeds in the district. I have seen a 

 specimen on Copheaton Lake in the middle of the breeding-season, and from its movements 

 was led to believe that it had a nest there. I have likewise seen Pochards more than once on 

 Gosforth Lake in March and April. I am indebted to the late Mr. Bean, of Scarborough, for an 

 egg of this species. It was one of a nest taken at the Mere, at Scarborough, June 1844, by that 

 gentleman, who shot the bird from the nest." 



