EASTERN SPOT-BILLED DUCK or GRAY DUCK 
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north this duck was not seen by Prjevalski (1878) in Kan-su, on the Koko-nor or on the Zaidam, but 
since then Berezowski and Bianchi (1891) have reported it in Kan-su, central China, and even in the 
Nan-shan Mountains, and David and Oustalet (1877) speak of it as breeding in the Ordos and in 
Mongolia. The western limit is evidently about 100° east longitude. There are two extreme western 
records: one of a bird collected by Holderer in central Asia, — no locality (Schalow, 1901), — and 
one for the vicinity of Angssi, Tien-shan region, collected by the Grum-Grzimailas, February, 1890 
(Pleske, 1892). 
GENERAL HABITS 
Almost nothing about the life-history of this bird is to be found in the literature of 
ornithology. All one can do is to presume that its habits are very similar to those of 
the Indian Spot-bill or the Mallard. Although primarily local there is little doubt 
that it is migratory in the northern and northwestern parts of its habitat. Prjevalski 
found it migratory in southeastern Mongolia. 
Unlike the Spot-bill it seems to be very partial to salt water. Vaughan and Jones 
(1913) found it in Canton Bay on islands and boulders off the coast, flying inland 
to the paddy-fields at sunset. In summer the birds are found in pairs or threes, but 
in October and November they assemble in large flocks. In Lakhimpur (Assam) a 
flock of forty (species?) w'as seen on one occasion, but as a rule the birds are found 
there singly or in pairs, or less frequently in parties of four or five (Baker, 1908). 
Baker always found single individuals in the company of Teal, Gadwall or other 
ducks, and remarks that they were extremely wild in this region. On the coasts 
about Hong-kong (according to Vaughan and Jones, 1913) they were found in the 
autumn associating wdth gulls {Larus canus and Larus cachinnans), cormorants 
(Phalacrocorax) and egrets {Demiegretta). 
Nesting. In the Hong-kong region the Eastern Gray Duck seems to nest in 
April, for Vaughan and Jones (1913) found ducklings swimming in the sea in May. 
On rocky islands outside Swatow, La Touche (1907) noted them breeding in May 
and June and found some eggs on the point of hatching as late as July. Styan (1891) 
found eggs on the lower Yangtse in May and also in July. Those of the latter month 
he attributed to a second brood. At the northern limit of its range in Dauria birds 
were found paired early in May, and Dybowski took downy young in that region 
(Taczanowski, 1870). Blakiston and Fryer (1882) say it nested in a park near 
Tokio in April, while in southern Saghalin eggs have been taken as early as May 
17 (Ldnnberg, 1908). 
A nest found near Swatow on the summit of an island was located among low 
brushwood and rank grasses (La Touche, 1907). 
Food Value. Like the Indian Spot-bill these fine large ducks are excellent for 
the table. The Chinese are said to split them down the back, dry them and sell them 
