450 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII. 



shot hurtle up to you crescendo, and die away as they pass ; and just in 

 this way (though the sounds are iu a wholly different key) does the 

 swish of a large flock of Garganey surge up to you in the middle of the 

 night, and die away as they pass." 



I do not think that it is because the birds are numerous or familiar 

 that we think the sound distinct from that made by other birds' flight. 

 I remember when first introduced to the Garganey how I was struck 

 with the pattering swish of their flight and then noticed how like a 

 whistle it rose and fell as it approached and vanished. Their flight is 

 but little, if at all, inferior to that of the Common Teal though more 

 direct, the flights seldom indulging in the swift dodgings and swervings 

 of that bird . Shooting over the vast Jessore bheels in boats, which 

 went in a thinly scattered line through them, the difterence between the 

 flight of the two species was well shown. The Garganeys rose far 

 aheadj swept round but once in a wide semi-circle and then went 

 straight ahead, whereas the Coiumon Teal often dodged in and out 

 down the whole line, circled about two, three or more times and then 

 disappeared but often only to settle ludf a mile or so further on. The 

 Garganey also rose quicker off the water, getting up obliquely and 

 were quicker away ; again when wounded they swam faster than the 

 common Teal and though by no means first class divers yet they were 

 good enough to be able often to escape us. 



As to whether they are wild or tame, opinions seem to differ very 

 much. Theobald says : ^' They are not very hard to shoot and are 

 easily approached behind a small screen of green boughs. Sometimes 

 a paper kite, made in the shape of a hawk, and flown over the tanksj 

 keeps the Teal together and they will not leave the tank though fired at 

 often." Dresser talking of the Garganey in Europe and quoting Baron 

 Droste actually says : " They are very tame and soon get accustomed 

 to the sight of human beings." Reed says that they are shy and wild 

 when they first arrive (in Lucknow) but afterwards become tamer. 

 Hume says that they are never tame and generally decidedly wild. 



As far as my expereince goes I have found that the Garganey is 

 one of the wildest of the duck tribe. Even behind screens, etc., they 

 seem to be very cute and to be able to discern what comes behind the 

 screen quicker than many others of their kind and they are not slow 

 to profit by what they can discern. 



