118 WILD DUCKS. 



The food of the mallard, consists as does that of most other species, 

 of the seeds and shoots of waterweeds, and the gleanings of the paddy 

 fields. At night they will even feed upon the corn fields, though dawn 

 always finds them once more in the vicinity of water. 



Next to the mallard comes the equally common and well known 

 teal (Qucrqucchula crecca). An interesting fact about birds generally may 

 here be noted. It is that the members of those species which are con- 

 sidered the best eating, are usually more numerous than those whose 

 flesh is inferior or worthless. It is so wdth the ducks, and also with 

 the snipe. The mallard and teal are certainly more numerous than any 

 other kind of duck, while it is equally certain that during a day's snipe 

 shooting one sees more snipe than members of any other species. In 

 good scrub country what bird occurs in greater numbers than the 

 pheasant, or in the loess hills than the partridge? What non-edible 

 birds, except the crows perhaps, does one see in such vast numbers as 

 the wild .goose, the quail, the sandgrouse or the rockdove '? 



To return to our subject: the teal, like the mallard, is so well 

 known that a description is needless. It is sufficient to say that where 

 the mallard is found, there also will the teal be : the ifcwo species follow 

 each other, and may often be seen in one large flock together. They 

 arrive earlier than any of the other ducks and stay longer. 



There is a peculiar satisfaction in browning a flock of teal, which 

 is often the only way of getting them, for they fly so fast, and keep so 

 close together that it is impossible to pick out single birds. Teal occur 

 in larger flocks than any other duck, and may sometimes be numbered 

 in thousands, though this is usually when several large flocks join 

 together in a long migration. 



It is difficult to decide which of all the numerous species should 

 come next in the list, and 1 shall not attempt to arrange them, but 

 take them haphazard, just as one might do while sitting comfortably — 

 or uncomfortably — behind some sheltering rushes, as the unsuspecting 

 birds come whistling over-head at dusk or dawn. 



The pin-tail duck {Dafila acuta) is another well known species, 

 with its exceptionally long brown and white neck, long pointed tail, 

 and grey vermiculated plumage. This species is good eating, and in 

 places is very numerous. It winters, however, very much further south 

 than is usual with the two foregoing species. The female, in common 

 with all wild ducks is smaller than the male, and of an inconspicuous 

 brown colour. 



Not unlike the pintail is the long-tailed duck (Harelda glaciaJis). 

 This is a very rare bird. Its plumage is mostly white, the breast, back 

 and wings being black. 



