The Grey Ducks. 159 



it was observed by him and his party 

 only on the coast and creeks of the South 

 Andaman Island. It is improbable, how- 

 ever, that this little Duck should be so 

 restricted in its range, and hereafter it 

 may be found in the adjacent islands. 



Few persons have had an opportunity 

 of observing this Duck. The late Mr. 

 Davison thus described the habits of 

 this species : " This 'Teal' is said to have 

 been very common, at one time, in the 

 Andamans, but it is far from being so 

 now. It appears to frequent alike both 

 salt and fresh water. During the day 

 it either perches among the mangroves 

 or settles down in some shady spot on 

 the bank of a stream ; when wounded 

 it does not attempt at first to dive, but 

 swims for the nearest cover, in which it 

 hides itself; but when hard pressed it 

 dives, but does not remain long under 

 water, and appears to get soon exhausted. 

 It feeds by night in the fresh-water 

 ponds, and I was informed that it is to 

 be seen during the rains in small flocks 

 in the morning and evening in the paddy 

 flats about Aberdeen. Sometimes in going 

 up the creeks a pair will slip off the bank 

 into the water, and keep swimming about 

 twenty yards ahead of the boat, only 



