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ANAS ALBOGULARIS 
unless hard pressed but in a case of necessity can do so most vigorously (Butler, in 
Baker, 1908; Hume and Marshall, 1879). The birds regularly perch, and, as aforesaid, 
spend much of their time among mangroves. 
Flight. The flight is fairly rapid and noiseless. Occasionally, when they have 
been kept on the wing for some time, a party will swoop down to the surface of the 
creek, as if they meant to pitch, then change their minds and rise again. When exer- 
cising this manoeuvre they fly past at a tremendous pace (Butler). The white wing- 
bar is a distinguishing field-mark. 
The flocks are usually of moderate size, about twenty or thirty (Hume and Mar- 
shall, 1879), but on the seacoast much larger congregations used to occur (Butler). 
Association with other Species. On the creeks they are commonly found in 
the company of the Whistling Teal (Dendrocygna javanica), and Butler has watched 
them together on the water, but says that the Andaman Teal separate from the 
others when put up. 
Voice. A male which died in the Calcutta Gardens had a well-developed bony 
tracheal bulb, very similar to that of the Common Teal (Finn, 1901a). This sex has 
a low whistling note, while the female utters a typical Teal-like quack (Finn, 1915). 
Davison (in Hume and Marshall, 1879) says he heard the whistling note only at 
night, when the birds were feeding. More than likely it is a note used mostly during 
the breeding season, as in many Teal and other ducks. 
Food. No stomach analyses have been reported, and I know nothing of the 
feeding habits beyond the fact that the birds frequent the paddy-fields at night, and 
probably also find something to their taste on the salt-water flats. 
Courtship and Nesting. Butler says pairing begins late in June, at which time 
the testes of the male were enlarged, although the ovaries of the females had under- 
gone no change. The breeding season probably begins late in July and continues 
through August, but there is little to base this assumption on. The nesting season 
seems to follow the onset of the monsoon, which begins in June. 
Apparently only two nests have been recorded. The first was found by Captain 
Wimberley in August in a paddy-field near Port Mouat (Hume and Marshall, 1879). 
The second was discovered by Osmaston near the top of a padonk tree on August 
4. This latter writer says that as far as his experience goes they invariably nest in 
holes in lofty and often dead trees. The clutch evidently numbers about ten. The 
eggs are devoid of gloss, and of a uniform cream-color. In size they vary from 47.2- 
50.3 by 35.5-37.3 mm. The incubation period is not known. Butler notes that a 
