﻿RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 143 



NATATORES. ANAT1D/E. 



PLATE CCLX. 



RED-CRESTED POCHARD. 



FULIGULA RUFINA. 



The Red-crested Pochard is an occasional and rare visi- 

 tant in Great Britain, some three or four specimens having 

 been obtained during the winter months. 



The countries in which this beautiful duck is principally 

 found are the south-eastern parts of Europe and central 

 Asia : it is plentiful in Turkey, Greece, Hungary, and 

 southern Italy ; in Dalmatia, the northern provinces of Italy 

 and the south of France, it is only occasionally found. From 

 central Asia it wanders as far as the southern parts of Siberia, 

 and southward through Persia to India. 



The localities most frequented by the present species being 

 lakes, rivers, ponds, &c, it is not to be wondered at that its 

 occurrence in Great Britain is so rare, and we may fairly 

 suppose that its occurrence at any time is to be attributed to 

 the association of some straggler with a flock of Red-headed 

 Pochards, which has thus reached us in their train as a 

 hanger on. 



The Red-crested Pochard is never met with on the sea ; 

 but lakes and rivers, whether of fresh water or salt, are 

 equally frequented by this species. Where the borders and 



N 3 



