WANDERING TREE DUCK 147 



were not very cold, they remained out of doors without harm, but the third winter, 

 which was severe for France, they suffered greatly, the female even taking shelter 

 in a Mandarin box. The male withstood the winter, but the female died as the 

 result of exposure. The birds were not left out on purpose, but because it was 

 impossible to catch them. 



The price is said at times to have been very low, for Hubbard (1907) reports a 

 consignment which reached Marseilles and sold as low as five shillings a pair. I do 

 not feel certain, however, that she is referring to this species, as she quotes Hume and 

 Marshall on its habits in India! 



The New York Zoological Society has purchased them for $8.00 each. 



It seems that they live to a considerable age. In the list of the Vertebrated Ani- 

 mals living in the Gardens of the Zoological Society of London in 1896 there was a 

 record of a specimen eight years old. Among Mr. Ned Hollister's records at the Na- 

 tional Zoological Park in Washington are the dates of death of five individuals 

 which arrived on September 25, 1903. They lived in the gardens as follows: ten 

 years and six months; twelve years, one month; twelve years, four months; fifteen 

 years; and fifteen years, three months. 



They were at one time exported by natives from southeastern Borneo to Java 

 (Grabowsky, 1885). They are said by Mottley (1863) writing of Banjermassing, to 

 be taken when young in Borneo, to become very tame and to breed in confinement ! 

 This appears very unlikely in view of the fact that the most expert bird fanciers have 

 found them breeding only very rarely The same writer remarks that they freely 

 associate with other poultry, but become exceedingly pugnacious and tyrannical, 

 even over geese! 



