t84 Manual of the Game Birds of hidia. 



migrating these Ducks fly very low, follow- 

 ing the plains which abound with lakes ; 

 and as soon as one is perceived that is 

 not frozen, especially in cold and stormy 

 weather, they at once settle down on it. 

 The presence of such a flock is always 

 known at a good distance, as the drakes 

 keep calling even when on the wing." 



Dr. Middendorff writes : — " Although 

 the commonest Duck on the Boganida, 

 (70° N. lat.), it did not extend its range 

 as high as the Taimyr river. It was not 

 observed before the 12th June on the 

 Boganida. On the 3rd July seven fresh 

 eggs were found in a nest on the river 

 bank, under a willow bush. . . . The 

 young in down are easily recognised by 

 the spot at the root of the bill and the 

 stripe by the eye, which agree exactly 

 with those of the female, but are yellowish 

 instead of white ; the feathers which are 

 shooting out on the breast have broad 

 and rather bright reddish brown edges. 

 The eggs are small, bluish yellow in 

 colour, the smallest 50 'millims ' long by 

 35 ' millims' in the widest part. 



"When in flocks these Ducks were 

 very shy, but less so when paired. They 

 make a great noise, as they continually 

 utter their loud clucking note," 



