.EX GALERICULATA 69 



the long elephant-grass, which, with other jungle, bordered the 

 stream. 



" We found the flesh of this bird very coarse, a fact which saved 

 the pair on several occasions afterwards when I saw it. Eventually, 

 when I learnt the value of my acquisition, I, of course, never again 

 saw it." 



This is the only occasion on which the Mandarin has actually 

 been obtained in India beyond all doubt. 



I was, however, once told by a sportsman that he had shot a 

 Marbled Teal in Assam, and when asked to describe it he gave a 

 very minute and accurate description of a female Mandarin. This 

 bird had been shot by him near Margherita, in the Dibrugarh district 

 of Assam, the same district as that in which Mr. Stevens shot his 

 bird. 



Again, Mr. Gruning, I.C.S., and myself saw six birds on the 

 river Ranganadi, which I am sure were of this species. We were 

 going along in a small launch, and the birds flew across us so close 

 that we could see their silver-grey heads and the clear white speculum ; 

 unfortunately we had no guns ready, and the birds flew straight 

 away. Their flight was very strong and quick, much like that of 

 Ncttion crccca (the Common Teal), but less swift than that of that 

 bird. 



This splendid little duck is one far better known in a captive 

 than in a wild state. Long ago Latham wrote : — 



"' We do not find it nearly so common in China as many other 

 birds .... and the common price is from six to ten dollars a 

 pair .... nor can they be bred in this country." 



Elakiston and Pryer, in the ' Ibis " (1678, p. '213), state : — 



" Very common on small streams. It formerly built in the trees 

 in Uyino Park, Tokio. Breeds in Yezo." 



It seems to be a duck which keeps much to small streams, more 

 especially such as run through forest, but at the same time to prefer 

 such streams as are clear rather than slow sluggish backwaters and 

 weedy pools. It is usually to be found in small flocks, seldom 

 exceeding a dozen, and very often less, even in the countries where 

 it is most common, so that very small flocks are all we can expect 

 to meet with in India or Burma. 



