120 INDIAN DUCKS 



Of course, in some bheels and lakes where they are especially 

 numerous, several small Hocks may be seen feeding together, forming 

 a total of 100 birds or more, but, on being disturbed, it will be found 

 that, as a rule, though rising en masse, they soon divide again into 

 parties. 



They are wilder birds than their smaller cousins, and also 

 stronger and quicker on the wing ; indeed, when once well started, 

 they are no mean fliers, and require a straight gun to knock them 

 over. One cannot well describe the difference in the voice of the 

 two Whistling-Teals ; but it is recognizable, and I think it consists 

 in the bigger bird having a shriller whistle than the other, though 

 it is not such a noisy bird. I doubt if they perch as" much as 

 I), javanica does ; the latter bird often takes to trees in the day- 

 time without any apparent purpose, except to rest, but D. fulva 

 does not seem to do this. Of course, both birds, when perching, 

 choose large boughs and branches, as they have no great grasping 

 power, and could not retain their hold on small ones, especially if 

 there was any wind to sway them about. As Hume remarks, this 

 whistling-teal is far more often seen on land than is the smaller 

 species, and he also notes their goose-like gait. Their legs are^ 

 as we all know, set forward much as are those of geese, and in 

 consequence they naturally walk freely and well as do those birds. 

 I have noticed them resting during the heat of the day on the 

 spits of grass-covered land which run far out into the larger bheels. 

 One or two observers have said that they are more river and clear 

 water frequenters than are others of the genus, but this I have 

 not myself confirmed. Every large bheel and expanse of water 

 which had cover on it, contained more or fewer of these birds, and 

 many a tiny tank or rush-and-weed-covered backwater held its 

 Hock ; but I have never yet met with them on the open waters 

 of the Ganges and Brahmapootra, though I have visited them 

 often, and though these run through their favourite haunts. 



These duck or teal, are practically as omnivorous as is the 

 domesticated duck, and will eat almost anything they can get 

 hold of, preferring, perhaps, a vegetarian to a meat diet. 



I can give no thrilling accounts of shooting these teal, as they 

 are not considered game in Bengal, and when we do shoot them 



