THE WATER FOWL 
OF 
INDIA AND ASIA. 
CHAPTER I, 
INTRODUCTION. 
THERE is no more generally interesting group of 
birds than the family A natide, which includes the Ducks 
and their allies the Swans, Geese and Mergansers ; and 
certainly there is none in India, or in most other coun- 
tries either, better fitted to attract to the study of general 
ornithology those hitherto unacquainted with its charms. 
So many species occur in our area ; they differ so inter- 
estingly in their habits ; their plumage is often so striking 
or so delicately beautiful ; and last, but not by any 
means least, they are all fit, and some very good, to 
eat. I say nothing of the sport to be obtained from 
shooting them, for to most people that will be the leading 
motive for making their acquaintance at all ; though, 
from another aspect which has been too little studied, 
both by ornithologists and by the general public, Ducks 
are not unworthy ofattention. Givenonlya lhttle pond, 
no birds are so easy to keep as pets ; they can be allowed 
to run even in a garden, and are generally both hardy 
and peaceable, while requiring the minimum of atten- 
tion. They seem to be invariably popular in public 
gardens, and I do not understand why they have not to 
I 
