I 



INDIA N D UCKS A ND THEIR A LUES. 253 



at !ill at the first shot, despite the fact of some of their comrades floatiug 

 dead before them." 



Ill open waters such us rivers, &c., and when on the winf(, Teal often 

 fly nnich bimclied and close together, and form shots which much en- 

 courage the bad habit of shooting into the broum, quite small flocks often 

 providing from half a dozen to a dozen teal to a couple of Itarrels of an 

 ordinary smooth bore. Qf course even into the hrouii one nmst hold 

 fairly straight as the Teal yields to no duck in the speed of its flight, in 

 addition to which the sudden sweops and turns they take often discon- 

 cert the gunner. 



They stand a fair amount of shot unless hit well forward, when a 

 single pellet of No. 6 or 7, or even of No. 8 may suffice to bring the- 

 bird to bag. 



Hume says that they swim easily but not very rajtidly and that they 

 cannot dive to much purpose. ^Vhilst agreeing with his estimate of their 

 swimming powers, I can hardly, however, do so with that of their 

 diving. If shot in open water thej' can be brought to hand easily, for 

 they do not dive for long and not patticidarly quickly, but if shot 

 among-st weeds, they are wonderfully smart in hiding and in dodging 

 in and out amongst them, as also in secreting themselves by holding on 

 to the weeds so that the}^ lie entirel}' under the water except the tips 

 of their bills. I found that in the Sunderbands they nearly always 

 made for the water lillies, hiding under one of the huge loaves. 



They walk well and can even run if nocessary, but they do not care for 

 the land, nor do they rest on it but on the water where there is cover. 

 They rarely feed on really dry land but frequently in paddy fields, etc., 

 where there are a few inches only of mud and water. As already said, 

 they are principally night feeders, but where quite undisturbed they 

 feed during all but the hottest hours of the day, say from 11 a.mi. to 

 about 3 p.m. Their food is undoubtedly maiuly vegetable, but they 

 do not despise worms, insects, etc., which may come in their way. For 

 the purpose of obtaining food their diving is said not to extend 

 beyond the peculiar semi-dive so much indulged in by the domestic 

 duck which leaves the tail-end well out of water. 



They are excellent eating and, however poor in condition they may 

 be, never seem to get any objectionable flavour ; so good are they to 

 eat, indeed, that they are often kept in Toaleries in Western and 



