2G0 INDIAN DUCKS. 



tails like a Cormorant : the latter, boinfi; carried under water as a rudder, 

 is not visil)le when the bird is .swimming.'^ 



It is a freshwater species, and, as far as I can ascertain, does not liaunt 

 coasts and salt water. 



It l)reeds also inland on lakes and marshes, and also on small ])onds, 

 placing its nest in amongst dense herbage at the edges, and always well 

 concealed. It is a typical duck's nest, containing perhaps more wet weeds 

 and rotten material in the base than do other ducks', but, like them, well- 

 lined with down, which in this case is said to be pure white. 



The eggs vary from six to ten, are a chalky white in coloui-, often much 

 discoloured and stained, yery large for the size of the bird, and remarkable 

 for their yery rough surface ; so rough indeed is it, that this egg is chosen 

 to represent those haying rough surfaces in the National Collection of 

 typical eggs. 



A few eggs are said to have a very faint green tinge. 



The length varies between 2'ij and 2'b inches, and the breadth between 

 1*95 and 2*05 inches. Most eggs are almost perfect ellipses, a few having 

 one end rather smaller than the other. 



