MALAYAN ORNITHOLOGY. 201 



One evening in Perak, while out bird-hunting, I 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 ceutre 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 intently watching my movements, 

 slowly and noiselessly sank under the water till nothing but its 

 head remained above the surface. 



When on the wing, the flight of these birds is very rapid. Skim- 

 ming close over the reeds, they dodge along at use of a great pace, 

 and are far from easy to shoot. 



They breed in holes in trees, laying several white eggs. I was 

 unable to find a nest, but think they breed in the north of the 

 Malay Peninsula, as near Kuala Kangsa I noticed that during June 

 they paired, and, leaving the open water, retired to out-of-the-way 

 places in the jungle, often selecting the narrow creeks or inlets 

 from a large jheel. 



Concerning the mode in which these birds, Cotton-Teal as they 

 are called in India, carry their young down from their nests to the 

 water, I had the following related to me by an eye-witness, an officer 

 in the Indian Civil Service. He was stationed on the Madras 

 coast; but 1 forget the exact name of the place. Anyhow, one 

 afternoon, late in June, while out riding he saw a Cotton-Teal leave 

 a tree and fly down to a pool of water which was near; the bird's pecu- 

 liar flight, slow and steady, so different from their usual rapid mode 

 of progression, attracted his attention; and riding closer, he saw 

 it had something resting on its back which, on its reaching the 

 water, proved to be three or four young Teal. 



My informant then sent his native servant up the tree from which 

 the bird flew ; and at about twenty feet from the ground he found 

 the nest, containing several more young birds, which he brought 

 down ; and my friend took them home, hoping to rear them in his 

 poultry-yard ; but in a short time they sickened and died. 



Specimens shot in Perak during May had their legs black, but much 



