§48 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HIST. SOCIETY, Vol, XXVIII. 
any of our members can and will furnish me with particulars of any of this: 
species they may have met with in the Madras Presidency, especially if possi- 
ble as regards its nidification. 
H. R. BAKER, Lt.-Cot., 
I, A. (Retired.) 
OoTaAcAMUND, NILGIRIs, 
lst November, 1921, 
[Mr. T. R. Bell writing cf the Malay Bittern (G. melanolophus) Vol. XIV, 
p. 394 says that “the bird is not rare in the Kanara District, Bombay Presidency, 
where I have taken many nests. The birds build during the heaviest rains in 
thick jungle. The nest is always placed in a conspicuous position, (at least it is 
conspicuous where once discovered, but is easily overlooked) and generally in 
the terminal fork of a tree ; anywhere from 15’ to 30’ from the ground. I have 
always found the tops of the hills the surest place for a find and generally at the’ 
commencement of a nalla; the birds seem to prefer to have a bit of flat open 
ground under the nest, but never build them exposed to the sky, the nest being. 
invariably overshadowed by the foliage of a high tree.”-—Ebs. |] 
No. XVI.—NOTES ON DUCK IN THE RAWALPINDI DISTRICT. 
During this hot weather I have been fortunate in obtaining several specimens 
of duck of different species, as shown in the following list. :— 
Date. Species. Sex. Notes. 
23rd May 1921..Common Pochard. 2 ¢Q Three specimens shot out 
(Nyroca ferina). of two flocks of about a 
dozen birds each. 
24th May 192!..Red-crested Pochard. A Asolitary drake brought to 
(Netta rufina.) me alive, slightly winged 
by shikari who shot him. 
3rd June 1921..Garganey Teal. G Shot out of two small flocks: 
(Guerquedula circia.) of three and four. Se- 
6th June 1921.. Do. ro) veral more seen. 
7th June 1921..Shoveller. 3 Q_ A pair shot together. 
(Spatula clypeata.) 
16th June 1921.. Do. QCA single bird. 
17th June 1921..Gadwall. &4& Two shot out of a flock of 
(Chaulelasmas streperus.) six. This seems to be 
the latest appearance on 
record of this duck. 
26th June 1921..Shoveller. 36 Q@ Another pair shot together. 
4th July 1921..Common Pochard. 2° Single birds. 
19th Jufy 1921..Garganey Teal. 3 @ A pair shot together. 
20th July 1921..Common Pochard. 3S Shot together out of the 
Red-crested Pochard. Q same flock of six birds. 
It is very remarkable that on the ovaries being examined not one of the fe- 
males showed any signs of breeding. In no case could I distinguish any signs of 
injury, and there can be no doubt whatever that the late stay of these birds is 
not to be accounted for by the usual theory of their being pricked during the 
shooting season and unable to fly. All these birds were shot on the Karung 
River within six miles of Rawalpindi, and it is absurd to assume that they 
