380 Lieut. R. E. Vaugliau and StafF-Surg. K. H. Jones 



Anas pceciloriiyncha. 



The Spotbill is the commonest of the Ducks which spend 

 the winter in south-eastern China ; a few remain throughout 

 the summer, and occasionally some of these breed. 



This species has a great partiality for salt water, and it has 

 been observed to frequent the small islands off the coast in 

 company with Larus cmms, Larus cachinnans, Phalocrocorax^ 

 and Demiegretta, and it often rests during the day on the 

 bare boulders that abound on their shores. Sometimes 

 these birds roost on the islands, but usually they flight at 

 sunset to the paddy-fields to feed, and many of them are 

 caught in the flight-nets at Wang Mun, the entrance to the 

 West River. The Chinese who net these Ducks split them 

 down the back, dry them, and sell them in the Canton 

 market. 



In May 1904 a female of this species was seen swimming 

 in the sea off" one of the islands, followed by five ducklings, 

 and this, together with the discovery, on several occasions, 

 of broken egg-shells, constitutes the only evidence as to the 

 breeding of this Duck in Kwang Tung. 



The birds seen during the summer are usually in pairs, or 

 in threes, but in October and November large flocks occur 

 on the river and on the coast, often in company with other 

 species. 



]\IaRECA PENELOPE. 



W^idgeon were observed from October 11 until February 25, 

 occasionally in flocks of their own kind only, but more often 

 in company with various other species. 



Nettion crecca. 



Teal are not uncommon during the winter months, and 

 sometimes large flocks of them are seen on the river. 



They arrive as early as the end of August and have been 

 seen as late as the middle of April, but the majority come 

 in during October and November, and they show a much 

 greater partiality for fresh water than some of the other 



