212 NYROCA BAERI 



GENERAL HABITS 



Less is known of this duck than of any other of the northern diving ducks. The 

 species is evidently closely allied to the White-eyed Pochard and perhaps to the 

 Australian White-eye, but it is a larger and heavier bird than the former species with 

 a longer and wider bill. When further investigations are made, and the center of 

 distribution is known, it will probably turn out to be a not uncommon bird. On the 

 middle Amur, Radde (1863), who gave the first good description of it, found it in 

 small companies during the breeding season. There seems to have been an invasion 

 of India in February, 1896, and also the following winter. Most of these were young 

 birds. In the winter of 1899-1900 only six were seen but in 1901 more again ap- 

 peared in the markets. In 1902 none was reported (Finn, 1909). Baker (1921) 

 thinks that Baer's Pochard will eventually prove to be a regular and not uncommon 

 visitor to the northeastern parts of India and even to northern Burma. 



In its general habits, so far as known, this duck resembles the White-eyed Duck. 

 Finn (1901), basing his observations on captive birds in the Alipore Zoological 

 Gardens, thought that it rose on the wing more easily than other diving ducks, 

 being comparable to the surface-feeders in this respect. Baker (1921) thus describes 

 the taking of one in the North Cachar Hills, India: "The bird was one of a flock of 

 about a dozen or less which were sighted flying up stream on the River Diyang, a 

 mountain stream consisting of rushing rapids and deep, still pools of water in alter- 

 nation. We followed them up and found the birds in a deep, but very rapid narrow, 

 which in one place widened out and made an eddying pool on either side, in which 

 the ducks were swimming. On our approach they got up, but Mr. Kennedy fired 

 and knocked one over; it was only winged and fell into the torrent, leading us a 

 pretty dance before we eventually secured it. The great pace of the water seemed 

 to have no appreciable effect on it, either in diving or in swimming, for it dashed 

 backwards and forwards with the greatest ease, kept long under water and turned 

 and twisted with great agility. At last a snap shot, as it showed itself for a moment, 

 brought it to hand." This bird, when eaten, proved to be extremely rank and fishy, 

 so much so that it could not be kept on the table. 



Two of Baker's collectors told him that this duck is a faster, stronger bird on the 

 wing than the Common White-eye, an equally good diver and swimmer, and much 

 more shy and wary. 



The courtship of this duck was first described by Frank Finn (1897, 1898). Later 

 Millais (1902a) made some observations on a specimen in the London Gardens. He 

 compares the courtship to that of the Common White-eye, and says he never saw it 

 throw the head back on the shoulders as the Common Pochard does. The male half 

 raises himself in the water by a sudden movement, while at the same time the chest 

 is thrust forward and the head and neck depressed upon the scapulars. Whilst this 



