To the Faeroes and Iceland the Pochard appears to be
only a rare straggler; nor is it at all common in any part of
Scandinavia, although in Russia its breeding-range extends
as far north as Lake Ladoga. A tolerable number nest in
Denmark, Northern and Central Germany, Poland, and, in
fact, where suitable localities present themselves, over the
greater part of Europe down to the Mediterranean, to
which considerable flocks resort in winter. It is abundant
in North Africa ; some are believed to breed in Algeria;
and eastward its range extends through Asia Minor, Turkestan,
and Central Asia to the Baikal district, but not further
north. It is common in many parts of India down to
Calcutta in winter, at which season it visits China and
Japan. In America it is replaced by a closely-allied species,
F. americana, which is larger, with a broader, shorter, and
differently coloured bill, and also presents some slight but
constant distinctions in plumage.
The adult male Pochard has the hill black at the point
and the base ; the intermediate portion pale blue, forming a
broad transverse band ; the irides red; the head and upper
part of the neck all round rich chestnut-red; the neck
below deep black; back, scapulars, tertials, and wing-coverts,
freckled over with minute grey specks and lines on a ground
of white ; primaries and secondaries nearly uniform grey,
the primaries ending in dark brown, the secondaries narrowly
tipped with white; rump and upper tail-coverts nearly
black; tail-feathers uniform greyisli-hrown; breast, sides,
and belly to the vent, greyish-white, produced by minute
grey marks, on a white ground; under tail-coverts black;
legs and toes bluish-grey, the intervening membranes bluish-
black.
The whole length is nineteen inches and a half. From
the point of the wing to the end of the first quill-feather,
which is the longest, eight inches and a quarter.
The adult female has the hill black; the irides brown ;
head, and all the hack of the neck dusky greyish-brown ;
hack and wings darker grey than that of the males ; quill-
feathers like those of the males ; no bright-coloured speculum
in either sex ; chin and throat pale greyish-brown ;
lower part of the neck in front dark brown ; all the under
surface of the body uniform dull greyish-white ; under tail-
coverts dark grey ; legs and feet as in the male.
Young males at first resemble the females, obtaining
some change with the feathers of their first autumn moult;
the alteration in the colour of the feather going on by slow
degrees afterwards. As late as the middle of January,
young males of the previous summer had not attained their
perfect plumage ; and the black on the breast of the young
males does not make its appearance during the first year.
The nestling is described by Naumann as having the head
and neck dull rusty-brown; upper parts blackish-brown;
under parts yellowish-white; bill and feet pale bluish.
The trachea of the male is about eight inches long; the
diameter of the tube large, tapering suddenly towards the
bottom ; the labyrinthic tympanum of beautiful form ; bronchial
tubes short. The engraving below represents the surface
opposed to the left side of the bird.
VOL. IV. 3 h