ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 147 
the back of the drake to be more pointed and a shade darker 
than those of the duck ; the feet and legs are of a more brilliant 
orange, and the reddish-yellow patches on the bill considerable 
brighter in colour. I found it among the most easily 
acclimatized of my fancy ducks, supporting considerable cold, 
but evincing a strong disposition to wander, the bird contriving 
to escape even when pinioned, depositing its eggs among dry 
grass or undera bush. The breeding season varies with locality. 
In some parts of India the Spotted-bill nests twice, and my own 
birds laid in April, one nest containing twelve eggs, of which 
six produced young ; the second batch of eggs was laid in May, 
and these I had the misfortune to lose, the young being 
taken at a few days old by my great enemies the rooks, 
which also seized my young chickens, of which I one year 
reckoned a hundred and eighty-five that they had taken. 
The rooks at first came after the meal with which the young 
birds were fed, and by degrees they took to eating the chickens 
themselves. I noticed that in the beginning they would tear 
open the unfortunate little bird’s crop, in order to obtain the 
soft food, which they would then carry to their young ; but after 
a time they found a duckling or chicken was edible, and they 
would convey it, still living, to their nests. The Ducks do not 
like being seen when engaged in nesting, so I found it necessary 
to place boughs of larch and fir, and other trees, along the 
inside of the wire netting, to make a natural cover for them. 
Male.—Slatey-brown ; feathers edged with yellowish- 
white ; under parts whitish, with numerous brown spots, varying 
in size; neck white, splashed with brown; wing-bar metallic 
green, velvet black, and white ; tail and wings brownish-black ; 
the irides vary from light to deep brown; the bill is black, 
base red, tip bright orange; legs and feet orange, with a 
shade of red. The bill and legs are less brilliant the first year. 
