POCHARD. 383 



will doubtless lead to discovery. It accounts for the red-breasted 

 shoveller being only the common blue-winged species, in the inter- 

 mediate change of plumage ; and it is probable all the males of that 

 species would be found in the latter end of the summer or beginning of 

 the autumn to assume more or less the female attire, with that rufous 

 tinge which has caused it to be taken for a distinct species.* 



The male of this species is furnished with a labyrinth. This bird 

 is frequently taken in our decoys in winter, and sold by the name of 

 the Sea Pheasant. It is most plentiful in the north of England and 

 Scotland, especially in the Orkneys. It does not breed with us, but 

 retires northward for that purpose, probably to Russia and Hudson's 

 Bay, where it is common. It is also found in China and America ; the 

 flesh is esteemed for its fine flavour. 



PINT. — A name for the Laughing Gull. 



PIP or ROOP. — *A disease produced in cage birds, known by the 

 swelling of the gland on the rump. The cure is to puncture the 

 swelling with a needle, and anoint it with lard or fresh butter.* 



PIPIT (Anthus, Bechstein). — *A genus of the Warbler family 

 (Sylviadce, Vigors.) * 



PIPIT LARK.— A name for the Meadow Pipit. 



PIRENET.— A name for the Sheldrake. 



PLATEA (Linnaeus.) — * Spoonbill, a genus of birds thus cha- 

 racterised. Bill long, broad, and thin at the end, widening into a 

 round spoon-like form ; nostrils small, placed near the base ; tongue 

 small and pointed ; feet semi-palmated.* 



PLOVER (Charadrius, Linn^us). — A genus of the Waders 

 (Grallatores, Illiger.) 



POCHARD (Nyvoca ferina, Fleming.) 



Anas ferina, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 203. 31. — Anas fera, Raii, Syn. p. 143. A. 10. — 



Will. p. 288. 282— Penelope, Briss. 6. p. 384. 19. t. 35. f. 1 Ib. 8vo. 2. p. 



462.— Millouin, Buff. Ois.9. p. 216.— Temm. Man. d'Orn. 2. p. 868.— Nyroca 

 ferina, Flem. Br. Anim. p. 121 — Poker, Pochard, Red-headed Widgeon, Br. Zoo! . 



2. No. 284.— Ib. fol. 156. t. Q. 5.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 491 Will. (Angl.) p. 



367. t. ll.—Albin, 2. t. 98.— Lath. Syn. 6. p. 523. t. 68.— Ib. Supp. 2. p. 354. 

 Lewins Br. Birds, 7. t. 253.— Pult. Cat. Dorset, p. 20.— Flem. Br. Anim. p. 121. 

 Linn. Trans. 4. p. 116. t. 14. f. 5. 6. trachea. — Bewick's Br. Birds, 2. t. p. 356. 



Provincial. — Vane-headed Wigeon. Attile Duck. Red-headed Poker. 

 Great-headed Wigeon. Blue-poker. Duncur. 

 A species about the size of a wigeon, but not so slender and 

 elegantly formed. Weight about twenty -eight ounces; length 

 nineteen inches ; bill broad, blue, tip black ; irides in some orange, 

 others hazel ; head and neck deep chestnut ; lower part of the neck, 

 breast, and upper part of the back black, with small undulated lines of 



