﻿148 ANATID.E. 



four or five feet deep. When this bird takes wing from 

 the water, it rises apparently heavily, and its bulk prevents 

 its passing quickly through the air. It generally flies low, 

 although it rises to a tolerable height during its migra- 

 tion. 



The Nyroca Pochard is by no means shy, which enables 

 a sportsman to approach it frequently within thirty yards 

 and less. Its numbers amount to fifty, and even double 

 that number, during the time of migration ; at other times 

 to six or eight, with the exception of the breeding- 

 season, when they appear in pairs. 



The call-note of this species sounds like the word currr, 

 currr ! that of the female is expressed in a higher pitch, 

 and the young chirp. 



The food principally consumed are, the roots, stalks, 

 young shoots, buds and seeds of aquatic plants ; but most 

 of all, those that belong to the floating-leaved plants : 

 aquatic insects, frogs, small fry, and the spawn of both are 

 also greedily devoured. 



In confinement, the present species thrives well on 

 wheat and barley, and may be kept for several years : 

 it becomes tame, either when caught young, or when 

 hatched under a tame duck ; but it requires the range of a 

 pond, either large or small. 



The chosen locality for breeding is generally some 

 pond, upon the surface of which a party of Nyroca 

 Pochards are seen to swim about in March, — the largest 

 number being generally males, battles ensue daily for the 

 possession of a mate, and when a choice is made, the pair 

 retire to some overhanging bank, where they remain apart 

 from the rest. By the beginning of June the eggs are 

 being deposited ; these the female covers carefully with down 

 supplied from her own breast. The male retires from 



