THE FERRUGINOUS DUCK. 

 Fuligula nyroca (Giildenstadt). 

 Plate 49. 



The Ferruginous Duck or White-eyed Pochard is only known as an occasional 

 visitor in the British Islands, and has been recorded more often in the eastern 

 and southern parts of England than elsewhere. It is however common in Central 

 and Southern Europe, breeding in many parts of that continent and in North 

 Africa, as well as in the temperate regions of Asia. It winters in Africa and India. 

 Lord Lilford says in his work on British Birds, " I have met with the White-Eye 

 in various parts of Southern Europe and North Africa, and discovered a nest in 

 Andalusia in 1872 ; this nest was placed amongst high rushes at a short distance 

 from a small fresh-water lake, and was composed of dry flags and rushes, and 

 lined with thick brownish down and a few white feathers." 



The number of eggs appears to vary between six and fourteen. The colour of 

 these, according to Millais, is generally "pale brown, sometimes with a faint yellow 

 or greenish tint." 



The food consists of roots and shoots of different water-plants, insects, and 

 molluscs. 



Lord Lilford describes the call-note of this duck as "a harsh rattling mono- 

 syllable, frequently repeated." 



The White-eyed Pochard is said to be less shy of human beings than other 

 ducks, is swift on the wing, and loves the seclusion of thick reed-beds and similar 

 cover on fresh-water lakes and ponds. 



An example of Baer's Pochard, Nyroca baeri, a Siberian species, was obtained 

 on the Tring reservoirs, Hertfordshire, in November 1901. This bird had probably 

 escaped from captivity. 



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