Red-crested Pochard 
13 
under, and, if they can reach some sedge, are very clever at hiding themselves in it, and in so doing only 
keep the head as far as the eye above the surface of the water. 
" They can easily be caught in large decoy nets placed at their favourite places in the water." 
In the intestines of these ducks are generally found certain worms such as Echinor- 
hynchus filicollis, Tcenia Icevis ; and in the feathers certain insects, Docophorvts icterodes, 
Norinus stenopygus, Tormsfum luridum. 
In confinement I have found this species rather troublesome owing to its greediness. 
They soon become very tame, and will devour food in such quantity and at such a rate that 
the shyer divers such as Golden-Eye, Scaup, &c. have little chance of obtaining a fair share. 
In consequence it is best to keep the species in a separate enclosure or in company with 
other birds whose feeding habits are different. I do not think that any of our aviculturists 
have been more successful in breeding this fine species than Mr. W. H. St. Quintin at 
Scampston Hall, Yorkshire, and I am indebted to Mr. A. F. Moody, who takes care of his 
birds, for the following interesting notes : — 
" Red-crested Pochards have been kept here for many years. They are good doers and breed freely 
in confinement. The males, when in colour, are also handsome birds, and we find one drawback to this 
species, in a mixed collection like ours, is that they are greedy feeders, and, being naturally tame, it is 
difficult to prevent them partaking too freely of the sea ducks' food, or rather the prepared barley meal 
which, in their case, combined with the bird's rather sluggish habits, proves too stimulating and conducive 
to an excessive and occasionally fatal accumulation of internal fat. This, I find, is best guarded against 
by periodically (about twice per year) enticing them into a smaller enclosure and for a few weeks limiting 
them to a sparing grain diet. As regards breeding, the Red-crest is an early layer (April), and usually 
produces clutches of from 7 to 9 rather round and Mallard-like eggs ; these are deposited in a bulky 
nest which, as incubation commences, is abundantly lined with large greyish down. The bird is a 
close sitter, and the site chosen for the nest is usually beneath some thick bush or amidst dense under- 
growth, Incubation, in the only instance I have timed, lasted twenty-seven days. The young are not 
more difficult to rear than many of the commoner species, and concerning the age at which they mature, 
when the sexes can be distinguished, &c., I have notes to the effect that the only male of a brood of five 
young Red-crests, hatched May 26, 19 10, first began to differ from the females when a little under seven 
weeks old (July 12) by some slight indications of pink appearing about the sides of the bill nearest the 
base, and by the feathers of the crown becoming slightly darker and more erect ; also I have further notes 
stating that by August 22 the bill had gained much colour, and the first indications of a change of 
plumage had commenced by a few black specks appearing on the breast, also that on April 26 of the 
following year the same bird, except that it retained an irregular band or streak of brown down the 
centre of the still rather imperfectly coloured bill, and had the general plumage less intense or glossy 
(this deficiency does not apply to the crest), appeared adult. In confinement I find this Pochard evinces 
a tendency to hybridise, and one male cared little for a certain female which for years mated and produced 
unfertile eggs to an old Brazilian Teal Drake. Hybrids have been reared here on two occasions, the first 
instance being rather a handsome male, the result of a cross between a male Common Pochard and 
a female Red-crest, the second the offspring of a union between a male Wigeon and female Red- 
crest. This latter hybrid (a female) was rather a curious bird, partaking in general appearance 
after the female parent, but, with the Wigeon, small feet and lack of diving power. Both these 
hybrids (the male, being unpinioned, enjoyed full liberty) thrived here for some years, and were 
eventually killed and forwarded for preservation to the National Collection." 
When first introduced to this country (1874), when specimens were presented to the 
Zoological Society by Sir Edward Buck, dealers asked as much as ^^30 a pair; now the 
price of a pair is, amongst the Holland dealers, from ^3 to ^4. M. Achille Rofifay, of 
Angers, as well as Mr. Blaauw and Continental dealers, have bred many of these ducks, 
whilst in England they have nested at Woburn and with the Hon. Rose Hubbard. 
I 
