rULIGULA FULIGULA. 243 



from ten guns, no more than five (I) birds were collected out of a huge 

 flock of ducks diving about all round them. 



Knowing their habits, however, he waited until he and his fellow 

 sportsmen were going over the same beat the next day, and then^ extend- 

 ing in a long line, they worked backwards and forwards, and this time 

 the birds rising in front were, each beat, gradually forced to the end 

 of the water. 



After arriving at this they had to fly back overhead, and in this way 

 they were accounted for to the tune of over sixty ducks. They are not 

 to be often found on open tanks, whose shores are free of jungle, nor on 

 rivers ; but I have once or twice seen pairs on the Megna, and at other 

 times have met them on tanks absolutely free of all vegetation. The pair 

 shot by Mr. Routh in Haflong were on an artificial tank with no vestige of 

 water-plant about it, as it had not been a year in existence. I found 

 also that when leaving and entering India, and during the month of March 

 and early April and in October, these little ducks were quite common on 

 all the hill streams and rivers where they debouch into the plains. 



Their cry is said to be the typical, harsh, grating " Mr " or " kurr" of 

 the Pochard family ; but it is a silent bird on the whole, and seldom 

 indulges in vociferations of any sort. 



Its food is almost entirely animal, much the same, in fact, as that of 

 the Scaupj but it is far more a freshwater bird, and far less a sea bird, 

 than is that duck, though common enouoh on the coast-line alono- the 

 greater part of its habitat. It is, of course, a poor article of food, though 

 here, again, tastes differ, and some people say it is not bad. Hume, who 

 was particular about his table ducks, said that he had found some " good 

 enough," and that some sportsmen had told him that they were excellent ! 



They feed principally during the daytime, but migrate and move from 

 one place to another after sunset. They do not ever appear to have been 

 found feeding on land, but should they ever do so, the probability is that 

 they only thus feed during the night. 



The Tufted Duck breeds, as far as we know, throughout the northern 

 yjortion of its range, and in some parts very far south. Thus it is known 

 with comparative certainty to breed in some of the upland lakes of 

 Abyssinia, in Southern Europe in many countries, and in (ventral Asia. 

 The nest is typically rather a slight affair, made more of grass and bents, 

 and less of reeds, rushes, and water-plants, than are most ducks' nests. 

 The lining, which is generally very plentiful, is said by Dresser to l)e 



r2 



