NETTION ALBIGULARE. 179 



mangroves or settles down on some shady spot on the banks of a stream ; 

 when womided it does not attempt at first to dive, hut when hard pressed 

 it dives, but does not remain long under water, and appears soon to get 

 exhausted. It feeds by night in the fresh-water ponds, and I was informed 

 that it is to be seen in some small flocks in the paddy-fields about 

 Aberdeen in the mornings and evenings. Sometimes, in going up the 

 creeks, a pair will slip off ihe banks into the water, and keep swimming 

 about twenty yards ahead of the boat, only rising when hard pressed, but 

 they are more wary when in flocks. I could learn nothing about the 

 breeding of this species. The only note I have heard them utter is a low 

 Vv^histle, and this apparently only at night when they are feeding.'^ 



For a long time the only note on the nidification of the Andaman Teal 

 was the one in ' Nests and Eggs ' quoted in all other works. It is : — 



" Very little is yet known of the breeding of this species. I have only 

 one note of its nidification, and one egg, both of which I owe to Captain 

 Wimberley. 



" The nest was found in August ; it was composed of grass, and was 

 jtlaced in a paddy-field near Port Mouat, the only locality with which 

 we are yet acquainted in the group where this species is always to be 

 met with. 



" The egg is typical, a very perfect broad oval in shape, with a very 

 close-grained, smooth shell, devoid of gloss, and of a uniform delicate 

 cream-colour. 



" It measures 1"9I5 by I'lo inches." 



AVe have now, however, the following further note from Osmaston, 

 which, whilst it curiously coincides as far as the eggs go with Hume, is 

 absolutely contradictory to the latter as regards the description of the nest. 

 Mr. Osmaston writes : — " The Oceanic Teal arrives in Port Blair in large 

 numbers towards the end of May, where they remain until October or 

 November. 



" In the winter months they frequent outlying fresh-water jhils, such 

 as are found near Craggy Island, North Reef Island, Niell, the Brothers 

 Templegany, and other places. They breed, as far as my experience goes, 

 invariably in holes in lofty and often dead trees, and the eggs are 

 therefore very difficult to procure. 



" A man brought me down ten eggs from near the top of a Padouk- 

 tree on August 4th. They were nearly fresh. 



"They arc rather long elliptical ovals, cream-coloured, and much 



n2 



