94 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



This well-known Duck arrives in the 

 northern portions of the Empire in 

 October, but it does not generally reach 

 the southern parts of India till November. 

 It leaves again in April, but many birds 

 appear to delay their departure till May. 



Although these Ducks migrate into and 

 from India in flocks, they are, during 

 their residence in the plains, almost in- 

 variably found in pairs or in a collection 

 of pairs, each couple seeming to act 

 independently of the other couples. They 

 frequent the sandbanks of the larger 

 rivers by preference, but they are often 

 found on the clean banks of lakes, and 

 even on the margins of extensive swamps. 

 By choice they seem to prefer sweet water, 

 but they are sometimes seen on brackish 

 pieces of water. They swim very little, 

 and they obtain their food almost entirely 

 on land. When on the water, however, 

 they swim well, and can dive when driven 

 to it. They walk about with ease, and 

 are strong flyers. 



Brahminy Ducks avoid cover of any 

 sort, and seldom rest except on bare 

 spots where they can see a long distance 

 round them. They are remarkably wary, 

 and difficult to approach as a rule, and 

 they not only exercise caution on their 



