RED-CRESTED POCHARD 113 



instance lasted twenty-seven days. Out of a brood of five, hatched on May 26, a 

 male began to be perceptibly different from the females while still a little under 

 seven weeks old, by some indications of pink appearing near the base of the bill and 

 by the feathers of the crown becoming darker and more erect (Millais, 1913). 



Mr. Wormald told me that the earliest date of laying for his Red-crests at East 

 Dereham in Norfolk, England, was April 17, which is rather earlier than one would 

 expect. 



The only available note on longevity is that of P. C. Mitchell (1911) who gives the 

 average duration of life in twenty-four specimens kept in the London Gardens as 

 three years and three months, the maximum being thirteen years. The maximum 

 length of life in the Cairo Gardens was a little over five years (Flower, 1910) and it 

 has never done well in the Calcutta Gardens (Sanyal, 1892). 



The only pair which I ever kept here in Massachusetts lived several years and 

 seemed not to mind cold winter quarters. 



Hybrids. Apparently the only wild hybrids recorded are the result of crossing 

 with the White-eyed Duck (Nyroca nyroca) (J. H. Gurney, 1901). In captivity 

 many curious combinations have been produced, of which the following is a partial 

 list : Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina) by Mallard {Anas boschas) ; by Australian 

 Black Duck (Anas swperciliosa) ; Indian Spot-bill (Anas poecilorhyncha) ; Pintail 

 (Anas acuta) ; Rosy -bill (Metopiana peposaca) ; Widgeon (Anas penelope) ; Common 

 Pochard (Nyroca ferina) (Poll, 1911); African Yellow-bill (Anas undulata) (Rogeron, 

 1903). Some of these crosses have been produced many times and recorded by 

 various aviculturalists. 



Hybrids with the Rosy -bill (Metopiana peposaca) are fertile, for one of them was 

 successfully crossed with the Carolina Duck (Lampronessa sponsa) (Poll, 1911). 



