1C2 
ANAS FALCATA 
in upper Burma and in northeastern and even north-central India. The first record for this region 
is, I believe, that of J. Anderson (1878) who reported specimens taken by the Yunnan Mission 
at Tamilone, on the Taipeng River in upper Burma, February, 1875. Shortly after, Hume and 
Marshall (1879) recorded five specimens, of which two were from the Lucknow region, two from the 
district about Delhi, and one from the Calcutta Market. Finn (1909) and Baker (1908) have shown 
that the species is present in northeastern India and Burma in greater numbers than 
is generally supposed. Specimens have been taken near Bhamo and Kindat in upper 
Burma, twice in Manipur, and once near Kyaukpyu, Arakan. Several have been shot in Assam and 
Tirhut, and during the winters from 1898-1902 the species was sometimes quite common in the 
Calcutta Market. Other specimens have been recorded from Bhawalpur, Jessore, and 
even the Narra Valley, Sind (Baker, 1908; Finn, 1909; Hopwood, 1912). It is impossi- 
ble to determine at present the western limit of this bird’s range. A specimen was taken by the 
.\fghan Delimitation Commission at Bala-Morghab, Badghis, and the species is said by Zarudny 
(1911) to winter rarely in Persia (Parapamis Mountains, Seistan and Kuhistan- 
Kirman) and in northern Baluchistan! A male was shot at Hanna on the Euphrates 
River in March, 1916 (Ticehurst, Buxton and Cheesman, 1922). 
There are also sev'eral records of its occurrence in Europe. Specimens have been taken in 
Sweden (Dresser, 1871-81) and in Hungary (Dresser, 1871-81), as well as in Bohemia 
(Fritsch, 1872) and possibly in England, if any weight is to be given a remark made 
by Pallas (1831). 
Burma 
India 
Persia 
Europe 
Migration 
Very little information and few dates are available for a study of the migration of these ducks. 
According to Dybowski and Parrex (1868) they arrive in Dauria in April. Prjevalski (1878) states 
that they appear at Lake Hanka from the middle of March to the middle of April, at which latter 
date Radde (1863) saw them arrive on the middle Amur. They appeared at Utskoi-Ostrog on May 
3 (A. von Middendorff, 1853) and at Nikolaievsk on May 18 (von Schrenck, 1859). On the upper 
Amur they did not appear until early June. In autumn they leave early, disappearing from the Amur 
region evidently in late September and early October. Radde (1863) says he found none in the 
market of Irkutsk after September 17. According to Dybowski and Parrex (1868) some stay in 
Dauria till late December! It is an interesting fact that of the specimens taken in Burma and India 
a great majority are females (Finn, 1909). 
GENERAL HABITS 
Haunts. This rather peculiar duck, which may be thought of as related both to 
the Common Teal {Anas crecca) and to the Gadwall {Anas strepera) has been given 
very little space in the literature. It is therefore difficult to make any general com- 
parison of its habits with those of other northern migrants. The great breeding area 
seems to be in Transbaikalia and along the course of the Amur. 
Wariness. Judging by the specimens which I myself have kept I should say 
that these ducks are very shy and secretive, for when first placed on an enclosed 
pond they refuse to come near the water, are seldom seen and hide throughout the 
entire day. 
Gait, Swimming, Diving, Flight. The Falcated Teal lacks much of the ele- 
