GEESE AND DUCKS 251 



The White-backed Duck {Thalassomis leuconotus) is widely 

 spread throughout the sub-continent. The top of the head 

 and the throat are black ; above and below of a yellowish- 

 brown colour mottled and barred with black ; centre of 

 back pure white. Bill, short and stumpy, and of a blue 

 and slate colour. Length, 17 inches. 



Within our limits it is widely distributed, but remains 

 so far imrecorded from Rhodesia. It is an expert diver, 

 and seldom flies, although it can and does fly when perse- 

 cuted. It rests in the water, amongst the aquatic weeds, 



Photo.; Haagner. 



Fia. 131.— Nest and eggs of White-backed Duck. 



with the whole body submerged, only the top of the head 

 as far as the eyes and the biU being exposed, which is all 

 the mark usually available to aim at. They are not bad 

 eating at times, although somewhat oily. The nest is a 

 saucer of sedge, rushes and weeds, built on the beaten-down 

 weeds growing in the water, and is usually well concealed. 

 The nest, of which we append a photograph, was situated 

 on weeds growing in about three feet of water in a dam, 

 twenty yards or so from the shore, and contained six eggs, 

 varying from a greenish creamy-brown colour, to a warm 



