THE WHISTLING DUCKS. 



The Whistling Ducks comprise a number 

 of species which are confined to the 

 tropical parts of the world. Two of 

 these are found within the limits of the 

 Indian Empire, where they are resident. 



In this group the sexes are quite alike 

 in plumage, and they do not differ much 

 in size. The Whistling Ducks have an 

 autumn moult only. They have rather 

 long, but slender legs ; the wing is some- 

 what weak, the outer secondaries reaching 

 considerably beyond the tips of the 

 primary coverts, when the wing is closed ; 

 the bill is of equal width throughout; 

 the plumage is rufous ; the primaries, 

 axillaries and under wing-coverts are all 

 black. Consequently the Whistling Ducks 

 can hardly be confounded with any other 

 Indian Duck. 



The species of this group nest almost 

 entirely on trees, and they habitually 

 perch, or rather stand, on the larger 



