232 INDIAN DUCKS 



in a wholly different key) does the swish of a hxrge flock of Garganey 

 surge up to you in the middle of the night, and die away as they 

 pass." 



I do not think that it is because the birds are numerous or 

 familiar that we think the sound distinct from that of other birds' 

 flight. I remember when first introduced to the Garganey how I was 

 struck with the pattering swish of their flight, and then noticed how 

 like a whistle it rose and fell as it approached and receded. Their 

 flight is but little, if at all, inferior to that of the common teal, 

 though more direct, the flocks seldom indulging in the swift 

 dodgings and swervings of that bird. Shooting over the vast Jessore 

 bheels in boats, which went in a thinly-scattered line through them, 

 the difference between the flight of the two species was well shown. 

 The Garganey rose far ahead, swept round but once in a wide semi- 

 circle, and then went straight ahead, whereas the common teal often 

 dodged in and out down the whole line, circled about two, three or 

 more times, and then disappeared, but often only to settle half a 

 mile or so further on. The Garganey also rose quicker off the 

 water, getting up obliquely, and were quicker away ; again, when 

 wounded they swam away faster than the common teal, and though 

 by no means first-class divers, yet they were good enough to be able 

 often to escape us by this means. 



As to whether they are wild or tame, opinions seem to differ very 

 much. Theobald says : — 



" They are not very hard to shoot, and are easily approached 

 beliind a small screen of green boughs ; sometimes a paper kite, 

 made in the shape of a hawk and flown over the tanks, keeps the 

 teal together, and they will not leave the tanks though fired at 

 often." 



Dresser, speaking of the Garganey in Europe, and quoting 

 Baron Droste, actually says : " They are very tame, and soon get 

 accustomed to the sight of human beings." Eeid says that they are 

 shy and wild when they first arrive (in Lucknow), but afterwards 

 become tamer. Hume says that they are never tame, and generally 

 decidedly wild. As far as my experience goes, I have found that 

 the Garganey is one of the wildest of the duck tribe ; even when the 

 would-be shooter keeps behind screens, etc., they seem to be very 

 cute, and to be able to discern what is behind the screen quicker 



