4 
rOClIAllD. 
From tlie view obtained through tlie glasses at the Pochards, it appeared that none showed the perfect adult 
plumage.” 
Though the autumn flocks seldom arrive before October, an old male or two may occasionally be 
recognized about the Norfolk broads all through summer. On the 1st of September, 1871, while stationed in 
a punt on the upper part of Breydon, a drake flew at a considerable height direct over my head, and on being 
knocked down by a shot from a shoulder-gun, proved to be in very richly coloured, though worn and faded, 
plumage *. 
Though the larger bodies pay little or no attention beyond wheeling round once or twice, small parties 
of Pochard almost invariably alight close to the wooden decoy-ducks I make use of in winter. Ten or a 
dozen carefully constructed dummies mooi’ed by a ring in the breast to a small ancbor so closely resemble the 
wild birds as they ride head to Avind, rising and falling with the swell, that it is almost impossible to scare 
aAvay a fowl or two of this species that have been attracted and settled in their company. On the 20th 
of January, 1872, by Avay of ascei-taining how long they Avould remain, I repeatedly drove up with the 
punt a couple of fine drakes. The poor birds continued SAvimming round their inanimate companions, turning 
and regarding the group intently aaIicu the boat approached within the distance of ten or a dozen yards. 
Though occasionally rising on Aving, they resolutely refused to quit the spot, returning after a short and 
hurried flight, and in the end I left them floating contentedly in the midst of the fascinating dummies. 
In the eastern counties these birds are usually knoAvn to the nath'es as Pokers or Sandy-head Pokers f. 
Dun-birds or Dedheads being tbe titles most commonly assigned to them by the fowlers along the south coast. 
FageVs Fochard . — Scientific naturalists are, I believe, of opinion that this form is merely a cross betAA’een 
the Common Pochard and the Ferruginous or AVhite-eycd Duck. After comparing the specimen from Avhich 
the figure in the Plate is taken Avith the tAvo species, it Avas obvious that there could be little, if any, doubt on 
the subject. Unfortunately no opportunities fell in my Avay for acquiring any information concerning the 
habits of this foAvl, and I am only enabled to give extracts from my notes for 1871 concerning its capture, 
coupled with the state of the Aveather at the time of the occurrence. 
November 13. Hard frost, light north-easterly breeze. On reaching the Avater-side a couple of hours before 
daA’break, the punts Avere discovered frozen firmly in, a thick coating of ice having formed in the dykes. 
"While the men were clearing the punts, I made my AA ay across the hill toAvards the broad, the moon shining 
brightly and lighting up an exceedingly Avintry scene. The Avhole of the south side of the broad appeared 
laid with thin ice, Avith the exception of a small piece of open AA^ater near the point of the hill, in Avhich 
a number of Mallard Avere feeding and slushing about, evidently enjoying themselves to the fullest extent. 
AVell aware that it Avas utterly impossible, OAving to the ice, to approach the party in the punt, I endeavoured 
to stalk Avithin range from the bank before the noise of the boats crashing up the dyke should disturb them. 
All Avent Avell until Avithin about sixty yards, AA'hcn a crust of ice over Avhich I Avas craAvling gave Avay and 
instantly put up the foAvl. On the arrival of the punt, aa'c broke straight through to the open AA'ater, and 
then ed^ed round the ice to the AA’estcrn side of the broad, in order to take advantage of the first signs of 
daylight. Shortly after reaching the outskirts of the large reed-bed, a small bunch of foAvl (evidently Pochards) 
* A somewhat singular mishap occurred at the shot. Owing to the gun (a heavy muzzle-loading 10-bore, carrying in the two barrels a 
quarter of a pound of shot) having been accidentally forgotten while exposed to a passing shower, the first barrel hung fire, and on the second 
trigger being pulled, both charges exploded at the same moment. Though no recoil was noticed (merely a a slight numbness being experienced in 
the fingers) the gun fiew over my shoulder, and was discovered with the barrels firmly fixed in the mud between three and four paces from 
the boat. 
+ Col. Hawker states (eleventh edition, page 209) that “ the dun-birds are called red-heads on the south and west coasts, and Purlers or 
half-birds in the fens.” Parkers, I conclude, must be a misprint for Pokers, the well-known cast-country name, never having heard tbe former 
title made use of in either the fen or broad districts. Goldeneyes and Tufted Ducks are occasionally termed half-fowl by the east-coast gunners , 
I cannot, however, recall to mind having heard this name applied to Pochards, 
