INDIAN PYGMY GOOSE or COTTON TEAL 107 



succeeding, the little bird twisting out of the way "as easily as an unwearied hare 

 from before a greyhound, and long before the Peregrine could recover itself was 

 down on and under the water." Their activity on the wing is no doubt as remark- 

 able as their ability to twist around tree stumps and other obstructions. Finn (1909) 

 speaks of it as "the most active flyer of all our water-fowl." "They squat," says 

 Baker (1908), "in the roadside ditches and tanks and, when finally leaving they 

 scuttle away chattering and clucking for all they are worth, as if trying whether 

 they could vociferate harder than fly, or vice versa, often only to return to some 

 spot within fifty or sixty yards." 



On the water this species has been noted as swimming "pretty rapidly though 

 rather jerkily" (Hume and Marshall, 1879), and Finn (1909) describes it as a "very 

 fast swimmer." Although in general a surface-feeder, "pecking about more like a 

 coot or water-hen than a duck," they will on occasion dive, but not, so Finn says, 

 readily or neatly like a duck; and when they tilt up their tails in ordinary duck fash- 

 ion they do it quickly, not standing on their heads for several seconds at a time. 

 Hume has likened their diving to that of a Dab-chick. 



Though the older writers, notably Blyth (1867), thought that the Goose Teal was 

 quite helpless on land, this is now known to have been an exaggeration. It is true 

 that it is very seldom seen on dry land and it progresses on its legs slowly and clum- 

 sily, being apt to collapse when it tries to turn around or go quickly (Finn, 1915). 

 Baker's captive birds "waddled about in complete comfort, though without any 

 undue speed," but when they became excited or frightened, or hurried, they "at 

 once flopped about in the most ludicrous fashion, tumbling over every little ob- 

 struction they met with, and appearing as if their hind quarters were going too fast 

 for their heads and breasts to keep in front of." 



Finn also noticed that they never stand on one leg like most ducks, although they 

 perch readily and spend much time on trees. They are also reported as climbing up 

 wire netting very easily. It is certainly curious that they exhibit so little aptitude in 

 walking, considering the fact that they are such excellent perchers. 



Size of Flocks. In the breeding season they are found in pairs only, though 

 numerous pairs may be seen occupying the same pond. Later on the families are 

 seen together, and Hume and Marshall (1879) think the families do not coalesce 

 until the middle of November. They are seldom met with in large flocks even in the 

 winter, and Baker (1908) declares that flocks are composed usually of less than a 

 dozen individuals. In one exceptional instance, however, he saw a flock of one hun- 

 dred of these birds. In India, the Malayan countries, and apparently also in Borneo 

 they are said to associate very commonly with the Whistling Teal {Dendrocygna 

 javanica or D. arcuata) and Kelham (1882) mentions that on several occasions he 

 got specimens of both species at one shot. 



