PENDROCYCNA FULVA. 95 



times ill the paddy-fields near Kyeikpadein in Southern Pegu during the 

 rains. I can find no record of its occurrence in Tenasserim or Arrakan." 



He then goes on to say that it is found in Ceylon, but he does not 

 mention his authority for this statement, and I cannot but think it is 

 a mistake, for I can find no record of its occurrence anywhere in that 

 island. In ' Stray Feathers ' (loc. cit.) he says that the Larger Whistling- 

 Teal is found all over the Province of Pegu, but is less common than the 

 smaller species. 



Outside India its distribution is very remarkable. Salvador! thus 

 describes its habitat : — '• America (from Southern border of the United 

 States to Mexico), and then from Venezuela and Peru to the Argentine 

 Republic ; Africa south of the Sahara, and Madagascar." 



Capt. Shelley reports ('Ibis/ 1894, p. 2S) four birds from Lake 

 Shirwa in Nyasaland, mentioning that it is the first instance he knew 

 of in which the birds had been found so far south. 



The distribution of this duck is the more remarkable vshen we 

 consider that it is not a migratory bird, or, at all events, only so in a 

 partial manner, as influenced by the want of water, &c. Thus it is 

 a resident inhabitant of various tracts of country, large in themselves, but 

 very widel}' separated from one another, yet never, as far as is known, 

 occurs in the intervening parts. 



Unlike D.^ara/nVrt, this bird is usually found in rather small flocks; 

 even in Jessore and Khulna, where it is perhaps more abundant than in 

 any other portion of its range, I seldom noticed it in flocks of much over 

 twenty, and never, I think, over forty. Generally there were some dozen 

 or fifteen members to each flock. Of course, in some bheels and lakes 

 where they are especially numerous, several small flocks may be seen 

 feeding together, forming a total of 100 birds or more, but on being- 

 disturbed it will be found that, as a rule, they, though rising en masse, 

 soon divide again into parties. 



They are wilder birds than their smaller cousins, and also stronger and 

 quicker on the wing ; indeed, when once well started, they are no mean 

 fliers, and require a straight gun to knock them over. One cannot well 

 describe the difference in the voice of the two Whistling-Teals ; but it is 

 recognisable, and I think it consists in the bigger bird having a shriller 

 whistle than the other, though it is not such a noisy bird. I doubt if they 

 perch as much as Z^. javanica does ; the latter bird often takes to trees in 

 the daytime without any apparent purpose except to rest, but D. fulva 

 does not seem to do this. Of course, both Ijirds, when perching, choose 



