WILD FOWL 
General distribution. — The common pochard inhabits the greater part 
of Europe and Asia, wandering to Iceland and the Faeroe Islands, but 
does not extend far north. It breeds in the sub -Arctic portions from 
Scandinavia, where it is comparatively scarce, and North Russia south- 
wards throughout the rest of Europe in suitable places. Eastwards 
through temperate Asia it is found in summer as far north as Lake 
Baikal. In winter it migrates to the Mediterranean and North Africa, and 
is more or less abundant on the coasts and inland waters from Morocco 
to Egypt. Thence eastwards it occurs from the Red Sea to China and Japan, 
being found in all parts of the Indian peninsula, north of about 15° N. lati- 
tude, but is comparatively rare in the south. 
Distribution in the British Isles. — In the British Isles, though chiefly 
a winter-visitor between October and April, many pairs remain to breed, 
and, owing to the protection now afforded them, seem to be increasing in 
numbers. In Scotland it is pretty generally distributed in summer from 
the Orkneys southwards, but is said to be a winter -visitor only to the 
Shetlands, and rarely nests in the Outer Hebrides or in Ireland. In England 
it has nested in many counties, but chiefly along the east and south coasts. 
Nest and eggs. — ^The nest, placed among rushes, sedges and coarse 
grass near the margins of fresh -water lakes and pools, is made of dead 
grass, and lined with down after incubation has commenced. From seven 
to ten or more eggs are laid in May; they are of a greenish -drab or greyish - 
green colour, and measure about 2 *3 by 1 '65 inches. 
The pochard is an expert diver, and much of its food consists of 
weeds obtained below the surface of inland waters, but when at sea it 
feeds on crustaceans and molluscs, which spoil the excellent quality of its 
flesh for the table. 
Allied form. — ^In America the pochard is represented by a nearly allied 
form, N. americana^ which has no black at the base of the bill, a greyer 
back and purer white abdomen. 
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