The Comb-Ducks. 105 



surrounded by jungle, and it is com- 

 paratively seldom seen on large streams. 

 It does not, however, avoid the smaller 

 streams if these have a sluggish current 

 and run through jungle. These Ducks 

 may be generally observed in pairs, but 

 when at rest during the day I have seen 

 as many as twenty or thirty together. 

 They are heavy, clumsy birds, but, when 

 once on the wing, they fly well. They are 

 not particularly wary, and I have seldom 

 found any difficulty in approaching a flock. 

 They seem to feed mostly in the morn- 

 ings and evenings, and they spend the 

 hotter part of the day resting on banks 

 or perched on some big bough of a tree. 

 This Duck feeds almost entirely on the 

 water, eating water-plants and the various 

 small forms of animal life found in water. 

 At times it appears to be partial to young 

 rice and grass. As an article of food, 

 the flesh of the Comb-Duck is not com- 

 parable with the flesh of many of the 

 migratory Ducks, but it is very palatable 

 when fairly young, and not to be despised 

 even in the case of the older birds. The 

 note of this Duck is seldom heard, and 

 has been variously described as a low 

 guttural quack-like sound, and as a loud 

 cry more like that of a goose than of a 



