ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 113 
selves with an occasional spring from the surface of the water 
with their feet. 
Their long-drawn whistle is often repeated when they are 
excited or hungry, and can be heard for considerable distances. 
Writing of this bird, H. H. Smith, in his ‘“ Brazil and the 
Amazons,” says :— 
‘* Birds are numerous about the river and its lakes. The young are 
pretty, plushy things, quite active and vigorous. Once the men shot at an 
old duck, missing her, but cruelly wounding some of the little ones about her. 
The mother only swims off a few yards, calling pitifully, but bravely holding 
her ground as we come up; the father appears from the woods and echoes 
her cries. I think even our Indians are struck with remorse, for they do 
not molest the birds further.” 
I find that they suffer when exposed to cold and wind, 
being subject to diarrhoea and kindred complaints, and requiring 
a little animal food during autumn and winter, in order to enable 
them to pass safely through the moult. Although, like the rest 
of its family, the Red-billed Whistler is not naturally a diver, it is, 
nevertheless, capable, upon emergency, of descending to con- 
siderable depths to procure food, which it brings to the surface 
in order to swallow. My own birds learnt to dive in company 
with some Pochards, which were fed with maize in a somewhat 
deep pond, their whereabouts being clearly manifested by a 
string of bubbles, occasioned by their endeavours to keep 
below. 
Male.—General colour various shades of brown; the 
cheeks and throat yellowish-white ; the breast feathers shading 
to bay ; eye hazel; abdomen black ; legs and bill red; nostrils 
yellow. 
Female.—Similar to male; bill and legs occasionally 
slightly paler. 
Young.—In down, yellowish-dun. 
