The Marbled Ducks. 277 



first-class Ducks, Gadwall, Mallard, and 

 Pin-tail, as well as the Indian Canvas- 

 back (Aythya ferind) being always avail- 

 able." 



Subsequently he wrote : " The flight 

 of this species, though Teal-like, is less 

 rapid and flexible (if I may coin an 

 expression to represent the extreme facility 

 with which that species turns and twists 

 in the air) than that of the Common 

 Teal. It more nearly resembles that of 

 the Garganey, but is less powerful, and 

 less rapid, even than that of this latter 

 species. There is something of the Gad- 

 wall in it, but it wants the ease of this. 

 It flies much lower, too, and, as already 

 mentioned, much more readily re -settles 

 after being disturbed. I have hardly 

 ever seen them swimming in the open, 

 and in the rushes they make, of course, 

 slow progress. When wounded, they 

 dive, but for no great distance, and then 

 persistently hold on under water in any 

 clump of rush or weed, with only their 

 bills above water. I have never seen 

 them on land in a wild state, but some 

 captured birds, whose wings had been 

 clipped, walked very lightly and easily ; 

 and, though they had been but a few 

 days in confinement, they were very tame, 



