152 THE MALLARD. 
latter, as it undoubtedly does in Berar, where Major Mackenzie 
has observed it, Chota Nagpore and Bengal (excluding Behar 
and Purneah) appear to be quite out of its range, though indivi- 
duals may straggle anywhere into both, just as I myself twice (in 
the course of ten years, however, be it noted) procured examples 
in the Calcutta market. 
As at present informed, I believe that a line drawn from a 
little north of Bombay to the Bhutan Duars, would approx- 
imately indicate the furthest southern and eastern limits of its 
normal range in India; and, although I myself procured it (as 
above) at Calcutta, and Blyth heard of it at Raniganj, and 
Mr. Inglis assures me that he has obtained it (though it is very 
rare there) in Cachar, I can at present only regard these occur- 
rences as abnormal, and these localities as quite outside its 
natural range.* 
Broadly speaking, the normal range of this species may be 
stated as the entire northern hemisphere from the 20th to the 
70th degree N. Lat., but practically it may be defined as the 
northern temperate zone, since comparatively few either go 
south of the Tropic of Cancer} or enter the Arctic Circle. 
Looking, therefore, to its general distribution, it is curious that 
it should be practically absent from the Deltaic districts of 
Bengal, Northern Arakan, Chittagong, Sylhet, and above all 
Assam; and yet from all these localities my correspondents 
report that they have never seen or heard of it. 
It is very common, especially in winter, in Central Asia,f and 
though Kashmir supplies many of our Mallard, doubtless the 
* From various parts of Southern India, and even from Ceylon, come vague 
stories of the Mallard having been seen or shot. But I have been unable to ascertain 
that any specimen has ever been preserved in any of these Southern localities, and 
equally so to trace out any individual who has fzmsel/f seen or shot the bird there. 
Of course a straggler of a species like the present mzgh¢ turn up any where, but up to 
date there is no valid evidence, I believe. of any Mallard having actually thus straggled 
to either Southern India or Ceylon. 
+ Riippell no doubt says it occurs in Abyssinia, but this seems to need confirma- 
tion. 
+ Dr. Scully writes :— 
‘*The Mallard occurs in great numbers in Kashgharia during the whole winter, 
when it is decidedly the commonest of the Duck tribe. In spring and summer it 
seemed to be less plentiful ; but this may perhaps have been because it was cast into 
the shade by the great variety of other Ducks and Teal then breeding about Yar- 
kand. In winter it was usually found near unfrozen springs and streams, and in 
summer in lakes and swamps associated with other species of Duck. The condition 
of a female obtained in April (which contained an egg almost ready for exclusion), 
and the occurrence of the two young birds preserved in July, prove conclusively 
that this Duck breeds near Yarkand. The Yarkandis say that of the twenty odd 
species of Duck, which they discriminate, the Mallard is the only permanent resident 
in the vicinity of Kashghar and Yarkand ; that it lays in April, the number of eggs 
varying from ten to fifteen;.and that the nest is placed amongst Yekan, i.e., 
rushes. 
‘*A couple of Mallards, kept in confinement in a tank inside the Residency at 
Varkand, formed a great friendship with a Red-crested Pochard (Fuligula rufina), 
and a Coot, who were also captives; but they would never associate with tame 
Ducks, always driving the latter away when they approached.” 
