ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 117 
Egg.—Pure white; ten to fifteen in number. July— 
August. Incubation, about four weeks. 
SMALL INDIAN TREE DUCK OR WHISTLING DUCK. 
(Dendrocycna arcuata). 
Dendrocycna arcuata inhabits the Indo-Malayan Islands, 
the Celebes, Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia, and Oceania ; 
it is essentially of a migratory habit, travelling in flocks of 
from twenty to a thousand, there being no rule as to the 
number; during the breeding season, however, they separate 
into pairs. Vegetarian in their diet, they frequent the 
paddy fields, where they do an infinity of damage to the 
young rice plants. The nest, usually constructed in a hollow 
tree or in some broad fork, is made of sticks lined with grasses. 
Dendrocycna arcuata is stated by Dr. Jerdon occasionally to 
hide its nest, when placed on the ground, by entwining grass 
stalks over it to form a shelter, while Hume and Marshall, in 
their ‘“‘Game Birds of India,” state that upon occasion it 
appropriates the deserted nests of crows and other birds, the 
mother carrying the ducklings from her nest in her claws to the 
water. Thousands are annually captured, and large numbers 
find their way to Europe, being sold at gos. per couple. In 
1907 a dealer informed me that large numbers of these birds 
arrived at Marseilles, and were selling as low as 5s. a pair. 
The birds which I had appeared very sensible of cold, and 
succumbed to a chill, which produced an affection of the eyes. 
Male.—Upper body and wing-coverts chestnut, deepening 
into maroon, each feather edged with a darker line; under 
body brown of various shades ; bill, feet, and legs lead colour ; 
head and neck whitish. 
