EHODONESSA CAEYOPHYLLACEA. 45 



grass-jungle on the ))fmks 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 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 G feet from the o-round 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. Ui)on 

 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 a facility that our old Mahout could not help 

 exclaiming, pjair jeegya (it's come to life again), and directed her flight in a 

 direction away I'roni the piece of water. After describing a considerable 

 circuit, she came back to the jhil on the banks of which we were standing. 

 Two more bullets were fired at her from the same gun, which only made 

 her rise after each shot and settle down again some ten yards further on. 

 Seeing that her tactics had failed in drawing us away from the vicinity of 

 her young, she again took to the grass-jungle, and all endeavours to flush 

 her again proved futile, though she was oljserved in the same piece of 

 water subsequently." 



What a pity Shillingford has not given us some details concerning all 

 the nests he seems to have found and also of the numerous eggs he 

 obtained : whether they were like those he sent to Hume, or whether they 

 were like most other ducks'* eggs. He did send five eggs to Hume, one 

 of which was, I believe, taken by himself and the others by Mr. T. Hill, of 

 Jeruneah Factory, in Purneah. 



Of these five eggs Hmne remarks : — *' The eggs are quite unlike those 

 of any other duck with Avhicli I am acquainted. In shape they are very 

 nearly spherical — indeed, one is almost a perfect sphere. 



"The shell is very close; and compact, but not particularly smooth or 

 satiny to the touch, and is entirely devoid of gloss. 



" In colour it is nearly pure white, Avith here and there traces of an 

 exceedingly faint yellowish mottling, probably the result of dirt. Even 

 held up against the light, the shell is white, with scarcely a perceptil)le 

 ivory tinge. 



"The fiv(^ eggs sent me by Mi'. Shillingford measure as follows: 

 1-,S2 X 1-7 inches, l-7.Sx iMlS^ 1-,S x l-(;2, I'll x l-C'.), 1-«1 X l-Ol. 



'• There is no possible doubt now that th(>se eggs, taken at two different 



