64 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 
to be very fast upon the wing, flying in flocks of twenty 
to thirty during the cold season, but during the breeding time 
they associate in pairs, breeding generally in holes of old 
trees. Indian travellers describe them as breeding in July and 
August, the ducks only attending to the duty of incubation, 
Dr. Jerdon stating that they lay from eight to fifteen small eggs. 
They dive like Grebes, but, as was remarked by Blyth, they can 
hardly walk at all, “their shuffling gait distinguishing them as 
water birds. The pictures representing them as standing on the 
ground like ordinary Ducks are erroneous, as they squat and 
creep, but are only able to shuffle forward a few paces.” They 
feed chiefly upon rice and shoots of water plants, with a propor- 
tion of worms and insects. Mr. Jamrach reports that much 
difficulty attends the importation of these birds, owing to an 
affection, described as paralytic, which seizes them when removed 
from the water, which I think may be analagous to the cramp 
referred to in connection with the “Paradise Duck” ( Zadorna 
vartegata ). 
Two examples of the Indian Pigmy Goose were presented 
by Mr. Frank Finn, on March 22nd, 1897. Many attempts 
have previously been made to introduce this bird into Europe, 
but without success, and these were the first specimens that 
have reached the Society’s Gardens alive. 
The same year between twenty and thirty pairs were im- 
ported by Mr. W. Jamrach and Mr. W. Cross at a fancy price ; 
they deteriorated so rapidly in confinement that the value came 
down to £1 a pair. Nearly all of these imported died, and 
Mr. Jamrach observes that they rarely live more than a month 
in confinement. It is to be hoped that the specimens secured 
by the Zoological Society may prove more hardy. 
Male.—Top of head, back, and wings black, with purple 
and green reflections; wings dark, with a large white patch on 
