INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 613 



I remember some eight or nine years ago Mr. J. Kennedy, then 

 Deputy Commissioner, Cachar, shot a White-eye up in the North Cachar 

 Hills, which aroused my interest from its great weight and very dark, 

 glossy head. I was not then at all interested in ducks, except when on 

 the table, and put the bird down as an abnormally coloured and very 

 large common White-eye ; but now I have no doubt that it was a good 

 specimen of the Eastern White-eye. 



This bird was one of a flock of about a dozen or less, which we 

 sighted flying up-stream on the river Diyung, a mountain stream, 

 consisting of rushing rapids and deep, still pools of water in alternation. 

 We followed thera up and found the birds in a deep, but very rapid 

 narrow, which in one place widened out and made an eddying pool on 

 either side, in which the ducks were swimming. 



On our approach they got np, but Mr. Kennedy fired and knocked one 

 over ; it was only winged and fell into the torrent, leading us a pretty 

 dance before we eventually secured it. The great pace of the water 

 seemed to have no appreciable effect on it, either in diving or swim- 

 ming, for it dashed backwards and forwards with the greatest ease, kept 

 long under water, and turned and twisted with great agility. At last a 

 snap-shot, as it showed itself for a moment, brought it to hand. 



1 remember this duck, though it must have been a very fully adult 

 male, had bright pale yellow irides. The bird was so rank and fishy 

 that we could not stand it on the table. 



Two of my collectors (Mahouiedans) who have lived all their lives 

 in Cachar and Sylhet, say that this White-eye is a faster, stronger bird 

 on the wing than the common White-eye, an equally good diver and 

 swimmer and much more shy and wary. 



Seebohm in his " Birds of the Japanese Empire" says that " the 

 Siberian White-eyed duck breeds in the valley of the Amoor." This is 

 the only note of its breeding which I can find. 



It is probable that in nidification it will differ in no way from the 

 common White-eye, though we may expect to find its eggs to average 

 somewhat larger. 



33. Nyeoca africana. 

 Tlie White-eyed Pochard or White-eye. 

 Aythya nyroca, Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 813 ; Hnme, 

 " Nests and Eggs," p. 645 ; iUdy " Str. Feath.," I, p. 265 ; Adam, ibid 



