GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 389 



American species, which having occurred in our islands forms the 

 subject of the following chapter. A. cyanoptera, the second 

 representative species of the New World. An inhabitant of 

 Western America from the Columbia River to Chili, Buenos 

 Ayres, and the Falkland Islands ; of only accidental occurrence 

 in the Eastern States. Distinguished from the Garganey by having 

 the under tail coverts black, and by the uniform chestnut head 

 and neck. 



Time during which the Garganey may be taken. — 



August ist to March ist ; otherwise by authority of owner or 

 occupier of land. 



Habits. — The aversion of the Garganey to cold is marked 

 very decidedly in several ways. In the first place, its geographical 

 area nowhere extends into an Arctic climate ; and, secondly, its 

 migrations are performed much earlier in autumn and later in 

 spring than those of most if not all other Palasarctic Ducks. 

 These remarks apply as much to the individuals breeding in 

 Europe as to those breeding in Asia, where the climate is much 

 more severe than with us. The Garganey leaves the northern 

 limits of its range in Europe long before winter, and in India it is 

 the earliest Duck to arrive in autumn, large flights appearing 

 towards the end of August, slowly reaching the southern districts 

 in October and November. It lingers in India until the end of 

 April or early May, beginning to leave the southern portions of 

 that country in March. The Garganey is decidedly a fresh-water 

 species with us, but in its winter quarters in India and other places 

 it is more maritime, frequenting creeks and estuaries as well as 

 inland waters. Whilst on passage, and in its winter haunts, the 

 Garganey is gregarious, forming into flocks of from a dozen to a 

 hundred individuals, which as they invariably keep well together, 

 afford most effective shots for the swivel gun. In India the 

 Garganey affects by choice the rather large broads and swamps 

 where plenty of aquatic herbage grows, shunning bare lakes, rivers, 

 and small ponds. It is neither a very wild nor a very wary species, 

 and approached more easily in a punt than most other Ducks. 

 It rises quickly from the water and its flight is rapid and strong, 

 but almost silent, although when large flocks of birds pass directly 

 overhead a very distinct swishing sound is produced. When flushed 



