THE POCHARD. 
127 
On the English coast, the velvet scoter is considered more 
rare than the A. nigra, which is likewise the case in Ireland, but 
on the coast of Scotland the latter is the more uncommon of the 
two species.* 
The Red-crested Pochard ( Fuligula rufina, Pall, (sp.). Anas 
rufina, Pall.) was introduced to the British catalogue from a 
specimen obtained in England, in January 1826, since which 
period a few others have been met with in that country, though 
none have been procured in Scotland or Ireland. The east of Eu- 
rope, a part of Asia, and of northern Africa, are the chief abodes 
of this species. It has occurred in most of the countries of the 
more southern half of Europe. 
THE POCHARD.f 
Red-headed Pochard; Dun-bird. 
Fuligula ferina, Linn, (sp.) 
Anas „ „ 
Is a regular winter visitant, but varies much in numbers 
in different years. 
Belfast Bag.— In some seasons scarcely any are to be seen 
here, and the more severe the winter they are generally the more 
numerous. During portions of two or three successive winters, 
about the years 1837, 1838, and 1839, they were very abundant. 
Where the river called Conswater joins the bay at “ Adam's point/'’ 
* Jardine. Mr. St. John, in enumerating the birds of Sutherlandshire, does not 
name the common scoter as at all found there, hut notices the velvet scoter, as “in 
abundance during the winter on the east coast.” — c Tour in Sutherland,’ vol. i. p. 140. 
f Sometimes called goldhead, fresh-water wigeon, and bull-headed wigeon, in the 
north of Ireland. The name of wigeon-diver is applied to it in Cork Harbour, and 
Whinyard at Wexford. 
