ANAS PLATYRHYNC'HA 157 



then the birds had to be gathered. We collected in all ninety-six, 

 but had to leave many, for they waddled over the ice and got into 

 pools separated from us by thick ice and weeds frozen hard together. 

 Curiously enough not a single Red-Crested Pocluird came to the gun; 

 but fifty-three Mallard were amongst the slain, and very grand they 

 looked when put in a line on the deck of the house-boat." 



In Sind, in the cold weather of course, the Mallard is found in 

 as great numbers as in Kashmir. Here it is said to collect in flocks 

 of some hundreds ; but this is not usual, and all over its vast range 

 it will be found more often in snmll than in large flocks. About a 

 dozen to some twenty or so is perhaps the number most often seen 

 together in one flock, and over forty or fifty is well above the 

 average, whilst flights numbering 100 will seldom be seen. 



They often, too, are found in pairs, whether in the hot plains of 

 India or in our own cool island. Many, if not most, of us must 

 have, while wandering about some half-frozen brook or wholly-frozen 

 broad, put up a pair of Wild Duck from some sheltered place beneath 

 a tree or thick cluster of reeds. Generally, even in the depth of 

 winter, they keep to open water, be it a pool ever so small ; but 

 they may also be seen disconsolately sitting at the edge of a com- 

 pletely ice-l)ound pond. 



As regards their habits generally, it is impossible to do better 

 than follow Hume and quote what MacgilHvray says : — 



" Marshy places, the margins of lakes, pools, and rivers, as well 

 as brooks, rills, and ditches, are its principal places of resort at all 

 seasons. 



"It walks with ease, even runs with considerable speed, swims, 

 and on occasion dives, although not in search of food. Seeds of 

 Gramineae and other plants, fleshy and fibrous roots, worms, 

 mollusca, insects, small reptiles and fishes, are the principal objects 

 of its search. In shallow water it reaches the bottom with its bill, 

 keeping the hind part of the body erect by a continual motion of 

 the feet. On the water it sits rather lightly, with the tail con- 

 siderably inclined upwards; when searching under the surface it 

 keeps the tail flat on the water, and when paddling at the bottom, 

 with its hind part up, it directs the tail backwards. The male emits 

 a low and rather soft cry between a croak and a murmur, and tlie 

 female a louder and clearer jabber. Both, on being alarmed, and 

 especially in flying off, quack ; but the quack of the female is much 

 the louder. When feeding they are silent, but when satiated they 



