AND NEIGHBOURHOOD. 193 



well as by night, in fact, that it is less strictly 

 nocturnal in its feeding-habits than the other species 

 of its genus. I have noticed on large open sheets of 

 water in Southern Europe that whilst the Common 

 Pochards and Scaups floated lazily about in the bright 

 sunshine, with many of their number apparently 

 asleep, the Tufted Ducks were constantly diving, 

 and flying from place to place in quest of food. This 

 bird is now known to nest annually in several 

 counties of England, as well as in Scotland and 

 Ireland, and under the protection afforded by law in 

 the breeding-season, as well as by many owners of 

 the lakes and meres in which it delights, seems to 

 be rapidly increasing in numbers as a resident in our 

 Islands. Nottinghamshire appears to be one of the 

 counties most favoured by the Tufted Duck in the 

 summer season. In the state of semi-captivity 

 produced by pinioning and fox-proof fences, I have 

 found that this species thrives well, though it is 

 certainly less hardy than the Pochard or Scaup. 

 Several broods have been hatched off, and a few 

 young birds reared, about my ponds at Lilford, which 

 are, I fear, too limited in extent, and probably too 

 crowded, to induce young wild-fowl, if left free, to 

 remain and permanently establish themselves ; the 

 immediate neighbourhood of the river is also, of 

 course, a strong incentive to this class of birds to 

 wander from their home. The ordinary call-note of 

 the Tufted Duck is well rendered by Mr. Whitaker 

 of Rainworth, Notts, by the words "currugh, currugh," 

 and has probably given rise to the name "Black and 

 White Curre," by which the bird is known to the 

 Hampshire gunners. "Blue-billed Curre" is another 

 common name for this species ; but I must admit 



VOL, II. o 



