Family ANATID^. Genus Fuligula. 



Subfamily Fuligulin^. 



RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 



FULIGULA Vi\J¥mA—{Fallas). 



Geographical Distribution. — British .• Rare winter visitor 

 to the British Islands, chiefly to England. Perhaps fifty examples 

 have been either obtained or seen in the United Kingdom ; of 

 these no less than eighteen were observed in a single flock on the 

 Thames, near Erith. Most frequently observed in the district 

 lying between the Thames and the Humber, especially Norfolk, 

 which has contributed some eight or nine examples. Odd birds 

 have been obtained as far west as Devon, Cornwall, and Pembroke, 

 and as far north as Northumberland. One example is recorded 

 from Scotland (Argyllshire, January, 1862), and one from Ireland 

 (Co. Kerry, January, 1881). Foreign: South-western Palaearctic 

 region ; Oriental region in winter. Of only accidental occurrence 

 in the Baltic Provinces, Pomerania, Poland, Denmark, Holland, 

 Belgium, France, and Switzerland. Breeds locally in the Spanish 

 peninsula, chiefly in the east, in the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, 

 Sicily, Italy, Central and Southern Germany, the valley of the 

 Danube, and Southern Russia. South of the Mediterranean it 

 breeds on the lakes of Northern Africa, but becomes very rare in 

 the east. In Asia it breeds in Turkestan and North Persia. Rare 

 winter visitor to the extreme east of the Mediterranean. The 

 birds breeding in Turkestan and Persia pass through Afghanistan 

 on migration, and winter in India. 



Allied Forms. — None of sufficient propinquity to call for 

 notice. 



Time during which the Red-crested Pochard may be 

 taken. — August ist to March ist. 



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