106 NETTAPUS COROMANDELIANUS 



and even road-ditches as frequented by these Goose Teal. Simson (1882) thought 

 it occurred usually in deep water and Legge (1880) mentions this preference for 

 deep water, especially for feeding purposes. 



An exceptional note is that made by Schlegel (1866) that in Java it is commoner 

 on the mountains than on the maritime swamps where it is quite rare, but he does 

 not mention the season. In the Sunderbunds they are also found on the biggest and 

 broadest stretches of water, where, however, they keep to weedy places with thick 

 cover (Baker, 1908). 



Wariness. Jerdon (1864) and Hume and Marshall (1879) and nearly all later 

 writers concur in describing this little Goose Teal as exceptionally tame and likely to 

 be found in intimate association with human beings. E. W. Oates (1883) found 

 them exceedingly tame in Burma except when associating with other species. Legge 

 (1880) speaks of their aversion to rising from the water, and says that when flushed 

 they circle the tank a few times and then re-alight among the lotus. The birds when 

 wounded allow themselves to sink in the water till only the head or even only the 

 bill remains above the surface (Legge, 1880). This habit of sinking in the water in- 

 stead of flying appears to be a common one. It is well described by Kelham (1882), 

 who observed the birds near Perak, Malay Peninsula, as follows: One evening he 

 "came upon a small pool completely excluded from the outer world by the most 

 luxuriantly growing jungle. From the overhanging trees long slender creepers hung 

 down in tangled masses to the surface of the water, which was almost covered with 

 aquatic plants. To complete this beautiful piece of jungle scenery, in the center of 

 the pool was a Goose Teal perfectly motionless; for, quietly as I had approached, it 

 had heard me, and, thinking it was unobserved, did not rise, but, all the time in- 

 tently watching my movements slowly and noiselessly sank under the water till 

 nothing but its head remained above the surface." 



Daily Movements. Commonly they feed during the daytime, roosting on the 

 trees at night, though some observations are at variance with this general remark. 

 Hume and Marshall (1879) say that occasionally on moonlight nights they have 

 seen them on the water with other wild-fowl, and Tickell (ibid., 1879) asserts that 

 they rest during the night "amid the tangle and coarse herbage matting over the 

 center of the pool." 



Flight, Swimming and Diving. The Cotton Teal rise rather awkwardly, fly low 

 and very rapidly, only occasionally getting high in the air, and they dive skillfully. 

 Their agility and dodging proclivities have often been attested. Hume and Marshall 

 (1879) think that in this respect they are unequaled by any other Indian water- 

 fowl, for they frequently saw Peregrines attempt to strike them down without ever 



