Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., having met with it; but the latter
has subsequently received a specimen from Damietta.
A young male Red-crested Pochard was obtained in Fulton
Market, New York, on the 2nd of February, 1872, by Mr.
G. A. Boardman, and had undoubtedly been shot in the
vicinity. It may be doubted if the presence of this solitary
individual in the United States was due to natural causes.
The nest of this species is placed in the rushes or flags,
in ponds or open pools of moderately deep water; the eggs,
from seven to nine in number, being described by Mr. Salvin
as of a most brilliant fresh green colour when unblown,
but when emptied the delicate tint fades ; average measurements
2‘3 by 1*6 in.
Although one of a sub-family the members of which, as
Mr. Dresser correctly states, are all good divers, yet he
subsequently asserts (B. of Europe, vi. p. 563) that this
species does not dive, but feeds like the Mallard. The
very reverse is the experience of the Editor, who has had
considerable opportunities of observing this bird on the
Albufera of Valencia, and has seen it dive repeatedly,
although unmolested; in fact, it frequents water of such
depth that it must necessarily dive to obtain its food,
which consists largely of water-weeds ; also of frogs, small
fish, insects, &c. The call-note, which, according to Mr.
Hume, is seldom heard by day unless the bird is alarmed,
is a deep grating kurr; but occasionally the male utters a
sort of whistle. Major E. A. Butler says that this is one
of those wary birds which severely try the sportsman’s
patience ; taking wing on the slightest indication of danger,
and flying up and down the tanks, invariably out of gunshot.
Mr. Sclater states (P. Z. S. 1880, p. 524), that in spite
of every care lavished upon several pairs selected from
twelve males and six females from the Punjaub, presented
to the Zoological Society by Mr. E. C. Buck, they refused
to reproduce inter se ; but in 1879 five curious hybrids were
produced on the pond on which they were kept; apparently
the result of a cross between this species and the Antarctic
Rosy-billed Duck, Metopiana peposaca, which was in the
same enclosure.
The windpipe of the male is about nine inches in length ;
the tube is narrow in diameter at the middle and near
the end, but enlarged at the commencement and again
below the middle, as shown in the representation of the
lower half. The labyrinth in the Ducks of this division is
composed partly of bone, and partly of membrane. The
right and left surface are here shown; the membrane supported
by delicate portions of bone diverging from an outer
bony ring.
In the adult male in spring the beak is crimson or vermilion
red ; the nail white ; the hides reddish-brown ; the