ANAS PCECILOKHYNCHA. 139 



not often more, thouoli they may occasionally number 14. They are much 

 like the eggs of the Mallard in appearance, though rather broader on an 

 averaoe, as well as a little shorter. Hume's dimensions for the eojes of this 

 duck are : Length from 2'08 to 2*3 inches, breadth 1"65 to 1"18, and the 

 average of fifteen 2*15 x 1*70. 



The eggs in my collection are of two rather distinct types — the one a 

 broad regular oval, the other a narrower egg with one end very much 

 smaller than the other and distinctly pointed. The texture is the same in 

 both kinds and the colour also, generally a pale buff-drab, much stained as 

 inculcation progresses. The two types average respectively 2*05 X 1'62 

 inches and 2*18 X 1"60. 



They do fairly well in captivity, but are difficult to tame, and generally 

 clear off as soon as they can fly. They have been known to breed in 

 confinement : those in the Calcutta Zoological Gardens did so in 1885. 

 They will also interbreed with the domestic duck ; and there is a specimen 

 in the British Museum collection of a hybrid between A. poecilorhynclia and 

 A. hoscas. 



The birds are very good parents ; the duck sits close and both she and 

 the drake show the greatest consternation when their nests are discovered. 

 Sometimes the disturber of their peace is tempted away from the vicinity 

 of the nest by the duck pretending to be wounded, and fluttering about a 

 short distance ahead, leading him to believe capture to be an easy matter, 

 until the capture is really attempted. Sometimes the birds wheel round 

 and round in the air just above the nest and refuse to leave, even after its 

 contents have been rifled. 



They also show great affection to one another, and one of a pair killed, 

 the remaining one has been known to refuse to leave the spot until he — or 

 she, as the case may be — has fallen a victim to its constancy. 



