178 THE PINK-HEADED DUCK. 
damaged, and she fell rather than settled in a patch of grass 
on dry land. Upon approaching this a similar manceuvre was 
gone through, and she deposited herself some 100 yards fur- 
ther on. Having decoyed us thus far she flew up into the air 
with such facility that our old shzkaree mahout could not help 
exclaiming phair jee gya (it’s come to life again), and directed 
her flight in a direction away from the piece of water. After 
describing a considerable circuit, she came back to the jhil on 
the banks of which we were still standing. Two more bullets 
were fired at her from the same gun, which only made her rise 
after each shot, and settle down again some 10 yards further 
on. Seeing that her tactics had failed in withdrawing us from 
the vicinity of her young, she again took to the grass jungle, 
and all endeavours to flush her again proved futile, though she 
was observed in the same piece of water subsequently.” 
A great number of ducks and other birds resort to similar 
artifices to decoy intruders away from the neighbourhood of 
their nests and young; but in no species is this habit more 
noticeable than in the Common Lapwing. 
The eggs are quite unlike those of any other duck with 
which I am acquainted. In shape they are very nearly spheri- 
cal ; indeed one is almost a perfect sphere. 
The shell is very close and compact, but not particularly 
smoothor satiny to the touch, and is entirely devoid of gloss. 
In colour it is a dull, nearly pure white, with here and there 
traces of an extremely faint yellowish mottling, probably the 
result of dirt. Even held up against the light, the ssmellies 
white, with a scarcely perceptible ivory tinge. 
The five eggs sent me by Mr. Shillingford measure as 
follows :—1°82 X 1:7; 1:78: X 11083; 1:3 X, 1625 1°70 3% ioe 
131) X 161. 
There is no possible doubt, now, that these eggs, taken at 
two different times by two different persons, are really the eggs 
of the Pink-headed Duck; but at the same time it must be 
admitted that they are eggs that no one versed in Oology 
could, without positive proof, have accepted as pertaining to this 
species. | 
I AM very badly off for measurements, &c., of this species. 
Mr. Shillingford gives the following particulars of two speci- 
mens, sexes not ascertained :— 
“Leneth, 24, 22; wing, 10°75, .10'0; tail, 4:75) 405 -atamome 
2°0,.2'0; -bill at front, 2°37, 2°25. Of the second specimen vomis, 
expanse, 34-5 > weight, 2 lbs 8 ozs. 7701) 
Of the first = “Bill dirty red; cere (?). flesh coloured junides 
deep orange red; legs and feet reddish slate. Of the second: 
“Bill light pink, assuming a purple tint towards gonys; cere* 
* T do not understand what is meant by a duck’s cere, 
