140 BIRDS OF LA PLATA 



flowing into it, and northwards to Paraguay* Along 

 this great waterway it is to some extent a migratory 

 species, appearing in spring in Buenos Ayres in very 

 large numbers, to breed in the littoral marshes and 

 also on the pampas. They migrate principally by 

 night, and do not fly in long trains and phalanxes 

 like other Ducks, but in a cloud ; and when they 

 migrate in spring and autumn the shrill confused 

 clangour of their many voices is heard from the 

 darkness overhead by dwellers in the Argentine 

 capital ; for the Ducks, following the eastern shore 

 of the sea-like river, pass over that city on their 

 journey* Northwards this Duck extends to Central 

 Brazil ; from the northern half of the southern 

 continent and from Central America it is absent ; 

 but it re-appears in Mexico. Commenting on these 

 facts Messrs. Sclater and Salvin write : " Singular 

 as this distribution is, it is still more remarkable 

 when we consider that there appear to exist no 

 tangible grounds for separating the American bird 

 from that called .D. major by Jerdon, which ranges 

 throughout the peninsula of India and is also found 

 in Madagascar ! " 



The Whistling Duck, in its chestnut and fulvous 

 plumage, is a handsome bird and somewhat singular 

 in appearance, especially when seen in a large body 

 on the ground. When out of the water they crowd 

 close together, and when disturbed stand up craning 

 their necks, looking strangely tall on their long blue 

 legs. While thus watching an intruder they are 

 silent, and the sudden ringing chorus of whistling 



