﻿156 ANATID.E. 



which this bird is first observable in the morning about the 

 time of its expected visit, and in spots where thousands have 

 been seen in the evening, not one is to be found the following 

 morning. Late in the evening, particularly when the nights 

 are dark, large flocks fly over rather low, with incredible swift- 

 ness and with noisy wings, which a lonely wanderer may either 

 enjoy or be considerably startled at. 



The chosen spots for its usual sojourn, are either still or 

 standing water in lakes, ponds, or bays, and inlets on the sea- 

 coast ; and with the exception of the time of breeding, it is 

 of no importance whether the waters are free from reeds and 

 vegetation, or whether the banks are rocky, flat, covered with 

 verdure, or barren : on the surface of rapid streams of rivers, 

 this species is only seen when all other parts are frozen and 

 covered with ice. It is a rare occurrence to see the Tufted 

 Pochard on land, unless the female has its nest among the 

 vegetation on the border, or in an inlet adapted for that 

 purpose, and then the mate may be seen sunning himself close 

 beside to her. 



During the day great numbers roost on the water at 

 a proper and safe distance from the shore, with their heads 

 under their scapulars. 



Like the foregoing species, the Tufted Pochard is very 

 clever in its evolutions on the watery element : it dives 

 equally well in pursuit of its food, and swims with ease and 

 swiftness ; this renders it very difficult to obtain the bird, 

 by means of fire-arms ; and in the fens it disappoints the 

 fowler by diving and returning to the open ponds, instead 

 of taking wing and flying into the funnels erected for its 

 destruction. 



The sociability of this bird cannot be doubted, as it is 

 always seen in companies of eight or ten, or in large flocks, 

 but hardly ever alone. 



