PINK-HEADED DUCK 91 



DISTRIBUTION 



With the exception of a very restricted area on the Ganges, this species appears to be everywhere 

 rare. The area referred to, which all writers agree is its chief habitat, is located north of the Ganges 

 and west of the Brahmaputra, and includes Purneah, Maldah, Purnlia, Bhagalpur and Ganges and 

 Tirhoot. In this region the species is common (Hume and Marshall, 1879; Baker, 1908; Brahmapu- 

 Simson, 1884; Blanford, 1898; Finn, 1909; etc.). Eastward it is found rarely throughout * ra 

 the rest of Bengal, and throughout the valley of the Brahmaputra as far as Sadiya (Hume and Mar- 

 shall, 1879). The British Museum has specimens taken by Pemberton in Bhutan. Hume has re- 

 corded it from Manipur and Sylhet, but there is no evidence of its presence in Cachar, p . 

 Tipperah or Chittagong. Blyth (1875) states that it is found in Arakan, but this state- 

 ment has never been proved by later investigators. The same is true of Blyth's remark that the species 

 had been discovered in Burma, nor is it known from Pegu or Tenasserim (E. W. Oates, 1883), or 

 from the Shan States. 



West of the Ganges the species is found rarely along the entire east coast, south to Madras (Hume 

 and Marshall, 1879), occurring in Ranchi and Chota Nagpur and rather more commonly in Sing- 

 boom (Baker, 1908). In Orissa it is rare, but is known to breed (J. H. Taylor, 1887). West of 

 According to Hume and Marshall (1879), it is found southward through the northern Ganges 

 Circars and Nellore to Madras. From the west side of the Eastern Ghats, however, there are 

 only a few records of sporadic occurrences, such as those for Admednagar in the Deccan and 

 Secunderabad and Jalna in Hyderabad (Hume and Marshall, 1879). In northern Deccan 

 and northwestern India the species is also rare or sporadic. There are several records Nepal Terai 

 for Nepal Terai (Hodgson, 1844) and it is not so very rare on the Ganges about Arrah (Baker, 

 1908). In Oudh it occurs regularly, though in very small numbers (Baker, 1908), and seems 

 to be found chiefly in the eastern sections and in the Sal Forest, being resident, however, even 

 in the western part (Hume and Marshall, 1879). It seems to occur not infrequently about 

 Lucknow, especially during the rains (Jesse, 1903) but it is very rare in the Northern Provinces, 

 Doab, and Rohilkand (Hume and Marshall, 1879). The only record for the Central India Agency 

 that I know of, is the statement of C. Swinhoe and Barnes (1885) to the effect that the species is 

 common (!) on Lake Depalpore, near Mhow, in winter. Baker (1908) adduces one very doubtful 

 record of its occurrence in Sind, and he also says that it appears to have been taken about four times 

 near Delhi. There is no evidence of its ever having been seen in the Central Provinces or anywhere 

 south of Mysore or even in Mysore; nor in the northwest in Kathiawar, Rajputana, the Punjab or 

 Kashmir. Nor as far as is known does it ever ascend into the Himalayas. 



GENERAL HABITS 



This rare bird does not appear to be nearly as much of a forest lover as the Comb 

 Duck or the White-winged Wood Duck. Its chief home is described by Simson 

 (1884) as being vast, extensive, and much -neglected plains, studded at considerable 

 intervals with small poor villages, and intersected with deep streams running from 

 the north into the Ganges, and abounding with crocodiles. These plains are often 

 subject to inundation. The Pink-heads inhabit small pools from ten to forty acres 

 in extent, scattered about these plains, and surrounded by very high grass. There 

 are a few stunted trees growing in this grass, and the pools are covered with lotus 

 plants. In such surroundings this duck is found throughout the year. In other 

 regions, however, the species seems to be found near the edge of jungle areas, but 



