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in Transylvania, where Bieltz says that they sometimes breed. We saw a few at Zah." It is 

 said to breed in Hungary ; and I observed it on the Lower Danube. In Turkey it is said by 

 Messrs. Elwes and Buckley to be common, but not so numerous as the freshwater Ducks. 

 Dr. Kriiper states that it is tolerably common in Greece ; and, according to Lord Lilford, it is 

 very common in winter in the Ionian Islands. 



In Southern Eussia the Pochard is said to be common ; and it winters in some numbers in 

 Asia Minor. In Palestine also, Canon Tristram states, it is one of the commonest species found 

 in winter on the Jordan. 



In North Africa it occurs numerously in winter. Von Heuglin says that he saw it in small 

 flocks on the Delta, the Chanka Lake, and on the shores of the Red Sea, near Suez ; but 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., states (Eambl. of a Natur. p. 228): — "Of all the myriads of Ducks at 

 Lake Menzaleh, Pochards seem the commonest ; I saw acres and acres of them. In one place 

 an immense flock, which I believe were chiefly Pochards, extended three miles as they sat upon 

 the water, without any visible break." It is said to be very numerous in Algeria, and certainly 

 breeds there. Mr. Salvin says of it (Ibis, 1859, p. 363): — "Very abundant during the winter 

 months in the lagoon of El Baheira. At Zana it was far from uncommon ; but we were not 

 fortunate in obtaining their eggs with certainty." M. Favier says (fide Col. Irby, I. c.) that it 

 "arrives during October, to remain in Morocco for the winter, departing for the north in April 

 and May ;" and Colonel Irby adds that he found it common about the lakes near Tetuan, and 

 shot one there as late as the 30th of March. 



To the eastward the Pochard is found as far as China. Mr. Blanford (E. Persia, ii. p. 302) 

 states that he shot it at Basrah, on the Persian Gulf; and Dr. Jerdon writes (B. of India, ii. p. 812) 

 that it " appears to be more abundant in Western India than in Bengal, but occurs throughout 

 the whole country in small parties, generally on the lai'ger and more open tanks." It appears to 

 be rare in Siberia. Neither Von Middendorff nor Von Schrenck appear to have met with the 

 present species ; and Dr. G. Radde writes that he only knows of it as found in the Baikal district ; 

 and it breeds, he adds, in the delta of the Upper Angara, where he shot a young unfledged 

 female on the 31st July, 1855. It was also seen by him, exposed for sale, in the market at 

 Irkutsk, on the 2nd October 1855. 



Pere David says that, though rare in Eastern Siberia, it is very common in China, both on 

 passage and in winter ; and Mr. Swinhoe met with it in Shanghai in the winter. 



In America the present species is replaced by a very closely allied, if really distinct species, 

 Fuligula americana, which differs merely in having the upper parts in the male darker, vermi- 

 culated on a greyish instead of a white ground ; but I can discover no difference in the females. 

 I have examined several specimens of Fuligula americana in the collection of Messrs. Salvin and 

 Godman, and compared them with my own specimens of Fuligula ferina ; and all that can be 

 said is that they are just (and only just) distinguishable ; and it appears to me very probable that, 

 in a large series of specimens from both continents, the two forms would be found to run into 

 each other. 



In habits the Pochard differs but little from its near allies amongst the Anatidse. It 

 frequents both the sea-coast and inland waters, and obtains its food chiefly under the surface of 

 the water. It is consequently an expert diver, and able to remain below some time, and to 



3c 



