208 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 
have been shot in this country, but they have not bred pure in 
our Zoological collection, though hybrids have occurred. 
I have noticed that when enraged or excited, the eye of 
the Vyvoca flashes into greater whiteness, the pupil contracting 
visibly. Young birds do not attain the pearl-like iris until their 
second moult, having previously a clouded appearance. The 
White-eyed Duck is occasionally offered for sale at from £2 to 
43 the couple. 
I never succeeded in rearing the young, although my 
Duck laid two batches of eggs, of which several hatched, but 
she nested again too soon, and the ducklings perished in the 
inclement English month of May. 
I have to thank Mr. Blaauw, of Gooilust, for these notes 
respecting the White-eyed Duck :— 
‘This bird does extremely well on ornamental waters, and is a free 
breeder. The nest is usually constructed in a boa either placed on a pole 
in the lake itself or put near the water under some bush. The number of 
eggs varies here (Holland) between six and eleven. I find that the best 
plan of rearing the young ones is to take the eggs away when they are about 
to hatch and place them under a bantam hen. 
“‘The ducklings are easily reared on ants’ eggs, bread crumbs, and 
duckweed, This species readily produces hybrids with the Red-headed 
Pochards, and if a hybrid of this union is again mated with a White-eyed 
Duck, the offspring is scarcely to be distinguished from pure Wyroca 
leucopthalma.” 
In my small collection, this pretty bird, with chestnut-red 
plumage, was always admired. His attachment to his mate was 
very marked, and I have watched him for hours, diving with his 
wife in the deep water, and returning to the surface with very 
untempting-looking mouthfuls of rotten vegetable substances. 
Although there is a general similarity between the male and 
female, his coat has a more ruddy tinge, and the chestnut of 
the head and neck is brighter, while his throat is encircled by 
a black necklace, which however disappears after the breeding 
