MX GALERICULATA. 57 



bank and across and down stream, only instead of selecting a small tree to 

 perch on, he always managed to drop into the long elephant-gmss, which, 

 with other jungle, bordered the stream. 



" We foiuid the flesh of this bird very coarse, a fact which saved the 

 pair on several occasions afterwards when I saw it. Afterwards, when I 

 learnt the value of my acquisition, I of course never again saw it."' 



This is the only occasion on which the Mandarin has actually been 

 obtained in India beyond all douljt. 



I was, however^ once told hj a sportsman that he had shot a Marbled 

 Teal in Assam, and when asked to describe it he gave a very minute and 

 accm'ate description of the female Mandarin. This bird had been shot l)y 

 him near Margherita, in the Dibrugarh district of Assam, the same district 

 as that in which Mr. Stevens shot his Ijird. 



Again, Mr. Gruning, I.C.S., and myself saw six birds on the River 

 Hanganadi, which I am sure were of this species. We were going along 

 in a small launch, and the birds flew across us so close that we could see 

 their silver-grey heads and the clear white speculum ; unfortunately we 

 had no guns ready, and the birds flew straight away. Their flight was 

 very strong and quick, much like that of Xett'ion crecca (the Common 

 Teal), but less swift than that of that bird. 



This splendid little duck is one far better known in a captive than in a 

 wild state. Long acjo Latham wrote : " We do not find it near so common 

 in China as many other birds .... and the common price is from six to 

 ten dollars a pair . . . . nor can they be bred in this country."^ 



Blakiston and Pryer, in the ' Ibis ' (1878, p. 213), state: " Very common 

 on small streams. It formerly built in the trees in Lyino Park. Tokio. 

 Breeds in Yezo."' 



It seems to be a duck wdiicli keeps much to small streams, more 

 especially such as run through forest, but at the same time to prefer such 

 streams as are clear rather than slow sluggish backwaters and weedy 

 pools. It is usually to be found in small flocks, seldom exceeding a dozen 

 and very often less, even in the countries where it is most common, so 

 that very small flocks are all we can expect to meet with in India. 



It is a stout, sturdy, strong little bird, equally good on water, land, 

 and air ; its flight is direct and strong, similar, though inferior, to that of 

 Nettion crecca ; it walks well and quickly, and swims with a jaunty 

 carriage, getting over the water at a great pace. I can find nothing on 

 record about its powers of diving, but, judging from its shape and plumage 

 these are not likely to be of the best. 



