AFRICAN PYGMY GOOSE 97 



mains under water a long time, while Horsbrugh (1912) speaks of its behavior in the 

 water as being very much like that of a Pochard. 



Size of Flocks. These little ducks are usually seen in small companies, varying 

 from five or six to ten or twelve. As far as I know there are only two records of their 

 occurrence in large flocks. Hartert (1886) records thirty together in Nigeria, and 

 Horsbrugh (1912) saw flocks of thirty or forty on Victoria Nyanza. I have been 

 unable to find any information as to their association with other species. 



Voice. The note, according to Bohm (1885) , is a clear, fine, chirping or twittering 

 noise. In the Indian species the voice in the male has been described as a singular 

 drumming quacking comparable to the words fix bayonets (Hume and Marshall, 

 1879). 



Food. Diet is probably taken chiefly from the bottom, and according to Hart- 

 laub (1882) consists of little insects, fishes, crustaceans, mollusks, and water-plants, 

 while Grandidier (Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, 1876-81) found them living on 

 "little animals," young leaves, and seeds of aquatic plants. 



Courtship and Nesting. There are no observations on the breeding habits of 

 the African Pygmy Goose, but it probably nests in trees and lays a large clutch. The 

 eggs have been described as "elliptical in shape, smooth, fairly glossy and cream- 

 colored, measuring 43.2 mm. by 31 mm." (E. W. Oates, 1902). 



Status. Nothing of a definite nature known. 



Food Value. Two observers, Andersson (1872) and Horsbrugh (1912), have 

 spoken of the Pygmy Goose as "pretty good" and "very good" eating. 



Behavior in Captivity. This species is not known to have ever reached Europe 

 or America alive, or to have been successfully kept in confinement even in Africa or 

 Madagascar. No doubt it is difficult to handle on ornamental waters. 



