296 THE POOD OF BIRDS IN INDIA. 



well as insects and their larvse, tiny shells and worms. But this 

 animal food forms but a small proportion of their diet here ; 

 indeed no traces of it have been visible in numbers that I have 

 examined, and in captivity they thrive a ne pouvoir plus without 

 it (which some of the larger dr.cks do not), and so I am inclined 

 to grade them as essentially vegetarians. H. M. G. B. Ill, 212. 



They feed chiefly on plants. F. L, IV 444. 



Their food is undoubtedly mainly vegetable, but they do not 

 despise worms, insects, etc., which may come in their way. S. B. 

 I. D. A., 172. 



1598. Nettium albigulare. Andaman Teal. v 

 Paddy fields to feed. H. M. G. B. Ill, 244. 



1599. Mareca penelope. Widgeon. 



" With us in the N.-W. Provinces they are more purely grass - 

 eaters than any other duck." Grass chief food, mingled with 

 this a few fresh water shells, insects and roots, and the leaves of 

 rushes and aquatic plants, and a little grain. ' I have often 

 seen them on land grazing like Geese." Along the coast on all 

 kinds of shell-fish, shrimps and the like, as well as on vegetable 

 matter (green sea weed ?) of various kinds. H. M. G. B. Ill, 200. 



Graze like Geese ; feed on grass, aquatic plants,' insects, 

 Crustacea, and mollusca. F. I. IV, 447. 



Of two birds shot in Silchar, the stomachs contained nothing 

 but the white tendril-like roots of a small water plant which 



grows profusely where the water is only a few inches deep They 



graze a good deal, like Geese, on young grass, and also young 

 crops, and in addition to various other vegetable substances, eat 

 water snails, worms, insects and shell-fish of sorts. Morris 

 writes : " This species feeds principally on water insects and 

 their larvse, small mollusca, worms, the fry of fish, and frogs as 

 also the buds, shoots and leaves of plants and grass, and these 

 it browses on in the day time." S. B. I. D. A., 158. 



Chiefly on grass-wrack and the like on mud-flats in winter, 

 E. B. C. N. H., 126. 



