814 INDIAN DUCKS 



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obtaiued by Seebuhin and described by Gates. It is much stained, 

 but where the original colour shows, it is an extremely pale, rathei- 

 clear cream. It measures 1"95 X 1'47 inches, and was taken m 

 Finland on the 6th June, 1895. It appears to me to have been 

 considerably incubated at the time it \\as taken, so Smews must, some- 

 times at least, breed long before -July, which is the month in which 

 the greater number are said to breed. Another clutch, obtained 

 through Skinner, St. Mary's Cray, agrees exactly with Kuschel's egg, 

 and the dimensions come within the limits already given. These 

 eggs were taken in Lapland in the month of June ; a third clutch 

 of five taken with the down also agree in size, shape and colour 

 with those already described. 



Hartert gives the average of 107 eggs as 52'4'2 X 37'4G mm. 

 CJ-0(J X 1'47 inches). 



My thirteen eggs average '2'0 x 1'45 inches. 



General Habits. — In their northern home Smews generally con- 

 gregate in flocks, numbering anything from a dozen or so to nearly 

 a couple of hundred, Hocks of over fifty being the exception. Here, 

 in India, even the latter number is very exceptional indeed, and 

 most birds are seen in comparatively small parties of a dozen to 

 twenty. Hume mentions as few as seven, and I once saw four 

 together, but there seem to be few records of single birds or pairs 

 having been obtained, though Francis saw a pair only, of which he 

 obtained the male, at Dehra Ismail Khan. They are as much salt- 

 as fresh-water birds, though they do not seem to have been noticed 

 ou our Indian sea-coast. As might be expected of sea-haunting 

 ducks, failing salt-water, they keep almost entirely to large open 

 rivers and lakes ; but Hume notes ; — 



" 1 Iiave, in unfrequented localities, occasioualh' seen them on 

 ordinary good-sized jheels, covering, perhaps, bareh' a square mile. " 



They are essentially diving ducks, and, as such, naturally prefer 

 water unencumbered by vegetation and of considerable depth. 

 They are wonderfully quick, active little birds in almost every 

 way. On the wing they are very fast and strong, though they 

 always prefer water to air when possible ; they get up very quickly 

 in spite of their short wings, rising lightly and at once getting into 

 full swing. As swimmers and divers few birds can approach them. 



