518 



heard before of either species staying to breed south of the Himalaya" (Ibis, 1859, p. 464). 

 He also further observes : — " Querquedula circia breeds sparingly, no doubt, in India, as 

 well as in Burma and Tenasserim." The last reference alluded to by Mr. Blyth is a letter 

 addressed to him from Moulmein by Major Tickell, in which that gentleman observes: — 

 "Another singular occurrence is the breeding of the Garganey in this part of the country 

 (Moulmein). I have a young one now alive, which was brought to me, just fledged, from a 

 pond or small lake about twelve miles off." The Garganey likewise extends into the Indo- 

 Malayan subregion, the Leyden Museum containing specimens from Java and the Philippines, 

 and even Celebes. 



Respecting the habits of this bird in Germany, Naumann states that they never remain 

 there during the winter. In August the families collect together in flocks, most of which leave 

 in October, a few remaining into November, after which all have disappeared. If the season be 

 a mild one, they reappear in March, but generally not before April, and are then (excepting 

 those that pass onwards, which are in small flocks) generally in pairs. They usually travel by 

 night, seldom in the daytime, and in the autumn migrate towards the south-west, often flying 

 with other Ducks, but still keeping apart with others of their own species. When travelling 

 quickly they fly high, keeping the same order as the other Ducks (Anas boschas, A. strepera, A. acuta, 

 &c); but being generally in smaller numbers, they often fly in a crooked line, and not in the 

 plough-shaped flight. They frequent the fresh water, and on the sea-shore are only found where 

 there are calm shallow bays the muddy bottoms of which are left uncovered when the tide is 

 out ; and these they only visit during their migrations. If marshes and freshwater lakes are near, 



they only visit the sea when driven from these, and never go far from the shore 



Wherever they take up their abode there must be muddy water covered with vegetable growth ; 

 they will not remain where the shores are open and the water clear. They are therefore 

 but seldom seen on the rivers, or only where there is some quiet corner with the banks covered 

 with green ; and they avoid the larger streams altogether. In the quiet of the night they visit 

 the pools and puddles in the fields, caused by rain or the thawing of the snow. Sometimes they 

 settle during the day on the fields far from water. During the daytime they hide in the reed 

 growth of the marshes where it is not too dense, and prefer the true reeds (Arundo pliragmitis) 

 less than the flags (Poa aquatica, Sparganium acorus, Iris carex, and the Scirpus juncus) and 

 other plants (Equisetum, Slum, Phelandrium, Euphorbia palustris, &c). At all times of the year 

 they are very fond of Festucafluitans, both when it has not shot up high and covers the water with 

 its floating leaves, and when it has grown tall and has ripe seeds. This Duck loves to frequent 

 flooded meadows when the grass is about a foot high and does not grow too thick amongst the 

 water, and this latter is not more than about six inches deep." 



Mr. Benzon, of Copenhagen, writes, " This Teal, which in Danish is called Atling or 

 Sommer Icrikand, breeds here and there in Denmark in morasses and inland sheets of water, and 

 is particularly abundant in Jutland, whence I have both the young in down and eggs on 

 which the females have been captured. The number of eggs varies from six to thirteen. The 

 earliest nest contained eleven eggs, and was taken on the 29th of April, 1865, and the 

 latest, containing seven eggs, on the 21st of May, 1864. The largest number (thirteen) in one 

 nest was taken on the 10th of May 1867, and again on the 8th of May 1868. A female with 



