146 INDIAN DUCKS 



clean stretches of sand, devoid, or almost devoid, of vegetation, and 

 they keep much to the land, though not so exclusively to it as the 

 common sheldrake. Of course, where there are no rivers, the 

 Brahminy does not disdain any ordinary lake or large piece of water, 

 but he eschews such as have much jungle about them and have their 

 shores all more or less clothed with the same, or with growing crops, 

 unless the latter are very young and short. Small dirty ponds and 

 weedy tanks he will have nothing to do with, except when in the 

 direst distress, nor will he willingly frequent small nullahs and rivers 

 with muddy banks. Even when there are fine open pieces of water 

 he will always leave these and resort in preference to sandy tanks 

 and churs, should such be in the vicinity, though he may visit the 

 former now and then to feed. 



The bird has been frequently tamed, and becomes very domesti- 

 cated. Some writers, Hume amongst them, speak well of its 

 character under such circumstances, and say that it is gentle and 

 forbearing to other ducks which may be sharing its captivity. 

 Mr. Finn, however, says that, from what he knows of it, " it is by 

 no means the gentle and inoffensive bird in captivity that Hume 

 makes it out to be, but is decidedly ill-conditioned and given to 

 persecuting other water-fowl." 



Everyone knows the legend about the Brahminy which is held 

 by the natives to account for only two Ijirds being found together. 

 They are supposed to be inhabited by the souls of lovers who have 

 sinned. Once, two lovers, who were prevented from marriage by 

 their parents, determined to take the matter into their own hands, 

 and risk the displeasure of the gods. Eventually, the lady escaped 

 from supervision, and went straight to her lover, who was awaiting 

 her; but they enjoyed their liberty only for twenty-four hours, for 

 the next night they were changed into Brahminy Ducks, and were 

 condemned ever to keep on opposite sides of the stream, and though 

 they were allowed to speak to one another, and to ask if they might 

 come, the other was forced ever to reply in the negative. Hume 

 ridicules the legend, and says he has never met a native who had 

 heard of it ; all I can say is that I have, repeatedly. 



At night, when feeding, the l)irds will often wander far apart, 

 and may be heard calling to one another in their short dissyllabic 



