190 INDIAN DUCKS. 



The young males are similar to the female, but are darker, have more brown 

 on the underparts, the speculum is more defined, and the coverts a purer grey. 



Males in moulting or post-nuptial plumage resemble the females, but have 

 the wing, not the scapulars and innermost SL-condaries, of the usual colour, 



" The downy nestling resembles that of the Mallard, but is smaller, and has 

 a broad unbroken buff streak above the eye and a well-defined dark streak 

 through the eye." (Yarrell.) 



The general liabitat o£ the (jraroanoy may be said to bo the Piikearctic 

 Region, an Eastern not Western form ; it has been obtained in North 

 America and Greenland : but its home is Xorthern Europe and Asia in the 

 summer, and Southern Europe, Northern Africa fas far south as Shoa, 

 tSomalihmd), and ^Southern Asia in the cold weather. 



Outside India in the winter it is to be found throughout Southern 

 Europe and Northern Africa, very common in Egypt, through Asia Minor 

 iind Arabia, Persia, Afghanistan, Southern CHiina, Japan, the Philippines, 

 Borneo, Java, &c. 



In Japan, Seebohm says : " The Garganey is a winter visitant to all 

 the Japanese Islands, but appears to be nowhere common."' Hose and 

 Everett both obtained specimens in the Borneo Islands, but it would appear 

 to 1)6 a rare straggler there. 



In India it occurs practically everywhere, from the extreme north to the 

 extreme south. As regards its distribution in Ceylon, Leggesays: "-Found 

 in the extreme north about the Jaffna peninsula, on the swamps of the 

 island of Delft, and on the west coast down to Manaar during the cool 

 •season from November to March. Layard speaks of its occurring in ' vast 

 flocks' at the head of the Jaffna estuary ; but I do not tliink it is so 

 common now-a-days." 



It extends throughout Burmah, but is absent in certain portions. Hume 

 says that it is not obtained in Tenasserim, but it has now been frequently re- 

 corded thence. It is common in jiarts between the Sittang and Sal ween, and 

 extends west of the former river. Gates records that it is found throughout 

 the Shan States, at least as far as Kentung, where Lieut. J. H. AVhitehead 

 has shot it. It does occur in Kashmir, and has l^een, since Hume Mrote 

 in 'Stray Feathers,' recorded from tliat State on various occasions. 



It would seem that in the extreme north and north-west the Garganey 

 is perhaps the earliest of ducks to arrive in India, but further east it is 

 (juite a toss up as to whether the Connnon Teal or tlie Garganev first puts 

 in an appearance. • On tlie whole, I should think the (-ommon Teal is the 

 earlier of tlie two. 



