INDIAN DUCKS AND THEIR ALLIES. 23 
Finally Finn, again in the columns of the Aséan, says that twice 
to his knowledge this duck has been obtained in the Calcutta 
bazaar. 
There is also a specimen in the British Museum obtained by General 
Kinlock in Peshawar. ‘This, to the best of my belief, exhausts the list 
of the Stiff-tailed Duck’s appearances within our limits. 
Of the birds whose age is recorded only two would appear to have 
been adult birds, the male got at Peshawar and the female in Ludhi- 
ana. 
It will be noted, also, that all the birds were obtained between the 
20th October and the 8th February, and that whilst the bird shot at 
Hardoi in January was in heavy moult, none of the others, in so far as 
we know, appeared to have been moulting atall. Therefore, it is very 
doubtful whether this particular specimen had not been indulging in 
an abnormal moult. I do not consider it of any weight in reference to 
the bird being a resident or otherwise, all that we know at present 
pointing strongly to the fact that it is not resident, There is, however, 
no reason why this duck should not breed in Kashmir, which is quite far 
enough north, and itis to be hoped that any one working the water- 
breeding birds of that State will bear this in mind. 
As regards its habits, we have very little on record as far as India is 
concerned. Finn notes: “In habits the Stitf-tail resembles a grebe 
rather than a duck. It is more ready to dive than to fly, swims low 
with its tail raised, and is said to be unable to walk, but this I doubt 
though I have only had a aripple to study. This bird resembled a 
grebe in its remarkable tameness.” 
Captain Sherwood writes in this Journal; “ The bird was very little 
longer, if any, than a common teal, but much bigger and presented a 
stumpy appearance, very ugly and ungainly. The wings were hardly 
more than six inches in length. The birds were shot in deep water in 
a nullah which they refused to leave after being put up, and after a 
short swift flight they settled again.” 
These two brief notes agree well with what has been written on the 
bird asit shews itself in Europe. From this it would appear that 
whilst the bird is a wonderful swimmer and diver, it is almost helpless 
on land, and, though of very quick flight, isvery loathe to take to wing, 
not rising until absolutely forced to do so, and then only flying for a 
