INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 189 



the north of the River Gauges and south-western parts of Maldah. 

 They come up to the central or higher parts of the Purneah district in 

 pairs, during the month of April, begin to build in May, and their eggs 

 may be found in June and July. The nests are well formed (made of 

 dry grass interspersed with a few feathers), perfectly circular in shape, 

 about 9 inches in diameter, and 4 or 5 inches deep, with 3 to 4-inch 

 walls, and have no special lining. The nests are placed in the centre 

 of tufts of tail grass, well hidden and difficult to find, generally not 

 more than 500 yards from water. They lay from 5 to 10 eggs in a 

 nest. Both the male and female have been started simultaneously 

 from the vicinity of the nest, bui whether the former assists in incuba- 

 tion is uncertain, though judging from the loss of weight, during the 

 breeding season, the male must be in constant attendance at the nest. 

 The weight of five males shot between the 13th February and 28th 

 June, 1880, in consecutive order being— (1) 21bs. 3oz. (13th February); 

 (2) lib. 14oz.; (3) 21bs.; (4) lib. 13oz.; and (5) lib. 12oz. (28th June). 

 When the young are fledged in September-October the Pink-headers 

 retire to their usual haunts, the jungly lagoons. 



" The following account, as indicating their strong attachment to their 

 young, may prove of interest. On the 17th July, 1880, whilst searching 

 for Pink-headers' nests with F. H. at the northern extremity of 

 Patraha Katal, where nests were reported, we flushed a female Pink- 

 header in the grass jungle on the banks of the Patraha jhil. F. H. fired 

 with his miniature express at a distance of about 300 yards at the bird 

 which had settled at the other end of the jhil. The ball was seen by 

 both of us to strike the water some distance above, and a little to the 

 left of the bird, which did not rise. Upon going up to the spot, to our 

 surprise she fluttered about and dragged herself along with loud 

 quackings. Being closely pursued she flew along at an elevation of 

 about 6 feet from the ground in a manner that led us to believe that 

 she was badly wounded, and one of her wings damaged, and she fell 

 rather than settled in a patch of grass on dry land. Upon approaching 

 this a similar manoeuvre was gone through, and she deposited herself 

 some 100 yards further on. Having decoyed us thus far she flew up 

 into the air with such facility that our old mahout could not help 

 exolaiming, phairjee gya (it's come to life again), and directed her flight 

 in a direction away from the piece of water. After describing a 



