•238 INDIAN DUCKS 



Hai'tert records the measurements of 103 eggs as follows : — 



Average 52'58 X 37-11 (2'OG X r46 inches). 



Maxima ££d x 38'0 ( fSS X r40 inches) and 



54X) X srra (2'09 X Idl inches). 



Minima J£0 x 37'0 {£9 X 1-45 inclies) and 



50'5 X ^«j (r99 X rSO inches). 



General Habits. — The Shoveller is not one of the earliest clucks to 

 arrive ; as a rule it comes into the more northern portions of India 

 in the latter end of October or even early in November, and is later 

 still in the southern parts of its range. In Bengal I think few are 

 seen until November ; in Assam, especially in the extreme N.E., I 

 have seen them in ( )ctober. 



It leaves, as well as arrives, later than many ducks, and may 

 often be met with in Cachar during April ; and Hume says that 

 some remain in the Peshawar Valley until May, and that in Kashmir 

 they remain until quite the end of that month. Ijieutenant White 

 also obtained one in the Kurram Valley in company of three gadwall, 

 on the '22nd of the same month. 



In the extreme north of its range and in the Himalayas it is only 

 seen whilst on migration, during the months of late September and 

 October and early November, and again in March and April, as the 

 birds go north. In Kashmir, however, a good number pass the whole 

 of the winter, and Adam says that it is found throughout that season 

 there. 



Although common over the major part of the country it visits, it 

 does not seem anywhere to l)e found in very large numbers, and may 

 often be seen in pairs or even singly. I do not remember ever 

 seeing a flock which numbered over forty, and should imagine such 

 a flock to be rare anywhere. 



As regards its haunts, these are everywhere and anywhere ; liut it 

 does not care for open, deep water, and prefers small creeks, ponds, 

 jheels, and tanks which are well covered with vegetation, and also 

 stretches of shallow water with plentiful cover and a muddy bottom. 

 At the same time, I Jtavc shot it in the very centre of large open 

 bheels, and once on a small hill-stream. 



Hume says : — 



