164 
ANAS FALCATA 
The nest, so far as known, is always on the ground, in swamps and along the low- 
lying banks of the larger rivers. It is rather well built, of leaves, grass or rushes, 
compactly put together and lined with a very heavy complement of down. It is said 
to be not particularly well hidden, but hard to get at on account of the treacherous 
nature of the ground (Taczanowski, 1873; Baker, 1908). 
The eggs are from six to nine in number, probably averaging eight. They are 
smaller than the Mallard’s and are colored like those of the Gadwall, although the 
yellow tinge is somewhat more pronounced (Taczanowski, 1893). The average of 
twenty-one eggs measured by Jourdain was 56.2 by 39.65 mm., the maximum 58.5 
by 39 mm. and 55 by 41.5 mm., the minimum 53 by 41 mm. and 57 by 38 mm. 
(Hartert, 1920). The length of the incubation period is twenty-four to twenty -five 
days under artificial conditions (Wormald). Baker (1908) seems to think that the 
drake assists, at least occasionally, in the duties of incubation, but I hesitate in 
attributing such habits to the males of any palsearctic duck. Baker also says that 
the male is seldom found far from the nest. 
Food Value. Excellent for the table, according to Walton (1903). 
Hunt. Even to this day these birds are probably little disturbed over the greater 
part of the breeding area. But along the coasts of Japan and southern China they 
are undoubtedly hunted on an increasingly large scale. Great numbers were killed 
in the Peking region over forty years ago, especially in spring (David and Oustalet, 
1877), and more recently a great many have been shipped from Hankow to the 
markets of Europe (Ghidini, 1911). 
Behavior in Captivity. A live specimen of the Falcated Teal was imported 
and kept by Latham in England before 1785 (Latham, 1785) but the bird has never 
been common in collections until within thirty or forty years. The London Gardens 
received some eight specimens of both sexes in 1874 (P. L. Sclater, 1880, 1883) but 
they never bred there. The average longevity of these eight birds and one received 
in 1892 was only eighteen months, the maximum being fifty months (P. C. Mitchell, 
1911). In England the species has been bred by a few of the more expert avicultural- 
ists, and Mr. St. Quintin was the first of these. Earl Grey of Falloden has been 
kind enough to write me of his experiences with this species. Some years ago he 
bought a pair of adult birds which never became tame, were seldom seen or heard, 
and never bred. He considered them the “ dullest, most uninteresting water-fowl ” 
he had ever kept. I quote from his letter ; 
“In 1917, in the early autumn, a pair of young Falcated Teal, reared by Mr. St. 
Quintin in Yorkshire, were given me. For some weeks they were very shy and I could 
only see them occasionally late in the evening. Gradually they got very tame and 
came regularly to feed both on land and on water. In January, 1918, the drake was 
