COMMON POCHARD 
225 
COMMON POCHARD. 
(^Fuligula ferina.) 
Red-headed Poker, Dunbird. — We pass, with 
the Pochard, into the class of Diving-Ducks, which 
get their food, whether vegetable or animal, below 
the surface of the water. The Pochard is a 
common winter visitor, and is not at all infrequent 
on inland lakes and pools during hard weather, 
while the number of waters where it breeds has 
been increased a good deal of late years, since the 
birds have received more efficient protection. The 
plumage of the Drake is easily recognisable ; all the 
middle part of the body is clear grey (actually a 
finely lined pattern of light grey and black, as is 
seen on a near view), while the head and neck are 
bright chestnut, the breast and shoulders next 
adjoining black, and the tail and wing-tips black 
also. Thus the middle of the bird is light, and its 
head, neck, shoulders, and tail dark or black, as it 
is seen out on the water. The Duck's plumage 
has the same outlined pattern, filled in with soberer 
colours, as is more or less the case with many 
species of this family. She is dark brown fore and 
aft, and a rather lighter brown amidships. It is 
generally noticeable that on a half-frozen lake the 
Pochards and other diving Ducks cling to the open 
