The True Ducks. 193 



appears again before the November frosts 

 have begun. Though widely distributed, 

 it cannot be regarded as a very common 

 species ; and though it is as gregarious as 

 its relatives, it is not seen in such large 

 flocks as many of them are. The Garganey 

 is one of the least shy of the European wild 

 Ducks, and allows itself frequently to be 

 approached within gunshot ; but it is 

 partly compensated for its tameness on 

 the water by the wonderful swiftness of 

 its flight in the air, in which it is surpassed 

 by none of its congeners. Although its 

 flight is so rapid, it is almost noiseless ; 

 and in other respects the Garganey is a 

 somewhat silent bird. Its quack is not 

 so loud as that of the Mallard, but is in a 

 slightly higher key ; it may be represented 

 by the syllable knake, whence the German 

 name of this Duck, Kniik-Ente. It is 

 generally uttered singly, but sometimes 

 repeated twice. The quack is common 

 to both sexes-, but in the breeding season 

 the male utters a harsh grating note 

 resembling Kr-r-r. The food of the 

 Garganey is the same as that of its 

 congeners, partly insects and other animal 

 food, partly the buds of water-plants and 

 other vegetable substances." 



Of the habits of the Garganey in India 

 VOL. ii. 13 



