POCHARD. 169 
POCHARD. 
Fuieuna FERINA, Linn. 
Pl. XXVL, fig. 2. 
Geogr. distr.—Europe generally, extending southwards to N. Africa 
and eastward as far as China; not rare in Great Britain; breeds in 
Norfolk, Yorkshire, Dorsetshire, &c. 
Food.—Mollusca, Crustacea, fish, aquatic plants. 
Nest.—A mere depression in the ground, lined with dried vegetable 
matter and down or feathers. 
Position of nest.—In marshy or reedy places near water. 
Number of eggs, 7-8. 
Time of nidification.—V-VI. 
Mr. Booth says that “in the eastern counties Pochards 
exhibit a decided partiality to the society of Coots; it is 
seldom that the two species are seen on the same broad 
unless in company. Some twelve or fifteen years ago, I 
often watched immense bodies feeding in company, two or 
three acres of water having been at times almost black with 
birds ; their number, however, unless alarmed and put in 
motion, could scarcely be estimated, as many were con- 
stantly disappearing below the surface.”’ 
‘Though I failed to detect the nest,” he continues, ‘‘ and 
never met with a chance of examining the young in-down, 
it is well known that Pochards breed in more than one 
locality in Great Britain. A few stragglers continue in the 
Highlands during April, but after that date the species is 
seldom observed. On two or three occasions, however, 
between the 11th and 20th of June, 1869, when visiting 
Loch Slyn, I noticed a couple of drakes on the water. 
These birds appeared unusually regardless of danger ; and, 
anxious to know whether they remained of their own free 
will, or their presence at this season was the result of 
wounds, I pressed them closely in the punt, when rising at 
once on wing, they made the circuit of the loch, and after 
a short flight returned to the water. Judging by their 
actions, I am of opinion that the females were sitting on 
some of the marshy spots near at hand.”’—(‘ Rough Notes,’ 
Part VIII.) ; 
Mr. Cecil Smith says that ‘the nest is placed amongst 
reeds, rushes, and other coarse herbage, on the borders of 
inland waters. Meyer says that in localities that suit the 
species great numbers of nests are placed near each other, 
although each nest is placed out of sight of the others.” 
—(‘ Birds of Somersetshire,’ p. 504.) 
