244 THE OCEANIC TEAL. 
they are more wary when in flocks. I could learn nothing 
about the breeding of this species. The only note I have heard 
them utter is a low whistle, and this apparently only at night 
when they are feeding.” 
In the day time you commonly see them in pairs, occasionally 
in flocks of from twenty to thirty, high up in some densely man- 
grove-bordered creek, where the water is fresh ; but at night they 
leave these, and, collecting in moderate-sized flocks, resort to 
fresh-water ponds or paddy fields to feed. When wounded, it 
sometimes dives most vigorously, not indeed remaining long 
under water, but by no means getting soon exhausted. On the 
contrary it will often compel you to fire a second shot before 
you retrieve it. It swims well and runs through the jungle at a 
great pace. Its flight appears to be fairly rapid, but they are 
seldom seen on the wing, except at night, and then it is difficult 
to judge accurately of this. 
They are not, I should say, wild or wary birds; they do not 
leave a place at the first shot, and Davison has got as many as 
eight by successive shots out of the same flock, the birds flying 
about and settling again at short distances. But they are 
eminently birds of a retiring habit, and very soon abandon, as 
a day haunt, any place which civilized or semi-civilized men 
begin to frequent. 
A whole flock is sometimes seen during the day time perched 
on the mangroves of some salt-water creek ; but they are cer- 
tainly, by preference, the denizens of forest-embowered fresh 
water. 
VERY LITTLE is as yet known of the breeding of this species. 
I have only one record of its nidification anda single egg, 
hoth of which I owe to Captain Wimberley. 
The nest was found in August: it was composed of grass, 
and was placed in a paddy field near Port Mouat, the only 
locality, with which we are yet acquainted, in the group, where 
this species is always to be met with. 
The egg is typical, a very perfect broad oval in shape, with 
a very close-grained smooth shell, devoid of gloss, and of an 
uniform delicate cream colour. 
It measures 1°93 by 1°43. 
THE FOLLOWING is a résumé of the measurements, &c., of a 
large number of freshly-killed specimens :— 
Males.—Length, 16 to 18; expanse, 24'°5 to 27; tail from 
vent, 4 to 4'2; wing, 7°5 to 8; tarsus, 1°3 to 1'4; bill at front, 
I'4.to I°5 ; from gape, 1°7 to 1°8; wings, when closed, reach to 
within from 2 to 2:2 of end of tail ; weight, 1 Ib. 
Females.—Length, 15:0 to 16; expanse, 24 to 25'5 ; tail 
from vent, 3:25 tO 3:5; wine, 7:1 to, 74; tarsus, (4125, tom tse 
