GEESE AND DUCKS 253 



The nest, of which we append a photograph, was situated 

 on weeds growing in about three feet of water in a dam, 

 twenty yards or so from the shore, and contained six eggs, 

 varying from a greenish creamy- brown colour to a warm 

 pale brown. The addled eggs had a slightly greenish tinge, 

 and were somewhat blotched, probably owing to the action 

 of the mud and water. The nest was lined with a few of 

 the feathers of the ducks themselves. 



The Knobbill Duck (Sarkidiomis melanota) is black above 

 with coppery and green reflections ; white below, and the 



Fig. 141.— Knob-bill Ducks. 



head mottled. The male has a wattle- like " comb " on the 

 upper mandible, which becomes very large during the 

 breeding season. There are also yellow feathers on the sides 

 of the lower abdomen. Length 30 inches. Female smaller 

 and without the knob on the beak. This Duck — also known 

 as the comb duck — is found in India, Madagascar, and tropical 

 South Africa, and although nowhere exactly common, ranges 

 as far south as the Orange Eiver. We found it breeding 

 in some numbers on the pools of the Crocodile Eiver, Pretoria 

 District, in May and June, 1916, and several young ones 

 were collected. The ducklings are striped like those of other 



