284 VERTEBRATE FAUNA OF LAKELAND 



observed swimming in the water just outside the sedge. In 

 1890 we showed Mr. F. S. Mitchell a single drake Wigeon, full 

 dressed, and showing no sign of eclipse, upon the same lough on 

 the 6th of June. It flew strongly, but appeared unwilling to 

 leave the spot. 



POCHARD. 



Fuligula ferina (L.). 



Dr. Heysham thought the Pochard ' a scarce bird,' and re- 

 membering that the only example that he examined in an 

 experience of eighteen years was the drake brought to him on the 

 1st of January 1788, we can hardly wonder at his opinion. 

 Yet the Pochard is by no means an uncommon bird on the 

 fresh waters of the Lake district. It has occasionally been 

 shot on the lakes, on Bassenthwaite, Lowes water, Esthwaite, 

 Ulleswater, Derwentwater among the rest, and often visits 

 Whin's Pond and Talkin Tarn, as well as the small loughs near 

 the Solway Firth. On the other hand, it must be owned that 

 very few Pochards have at any time been shot by the numerous 

 punt-gunners of Morecambe Bay and the Solway Firth, though 

 we have examined odd specimens shot all along the north-west 

 coast of England, from Carnforth to Gretna. The Pochard is 

 in fact one of our more local wild-fowl, frequenting our estuaries 

 only on passage or when frozen out, and appearing even in its 

 most favourite haunts in rather inferior numbers to the tufted 

 duck; in outlying districts, such as Alston, its occasional 

 presence is due to the desire of migrating birds to rest on 

 passage. Personally, I observe Pochards most towards the close 

 of winter, when from half-a-dozen to a dozen birds can often be 

 seen on Monkhill Lough, inactive and less inclined to feed than 

 to enjoy a quiet siesta, for they are principally night feeders. 

 They seldom appear except in full dress, and the males always 

 largely outnumbered the females. They are rather ungainly 

 fowl, generally fly in a string with very stiff necks, uttering a 

 rasping call-note, a ' kr, kr, kr.' They seldom fly as high as 

 other diving ducks, and are of a less suspicious character than 

 Mallard or Shovellers. On the 21st of December 1889, I 



