THE YOUNG NATURALIST. [October 



of reeds and grass growing in them seemed to be the favourite haunt 

 of the Grey Ducks, and 1 never saw them either on quite open water 

 or near villages. I believe one or two were shot at Katwara, but I saw 

 most at Hersole and in the weedy swamp on the edge of the Null. 

 They do not go in large flights, and I never myself saw more than four 

 or five in a party, though it is said that ten or a dozen is not an 

 unusual number to find together. 



The Grey Duck is tolerably easy to bring to bag, as it flies some- 

 what heavily and at no great height, and does not require a very heavy 

 blow to bring it down. It is very good eating, being little, if at all 

 inferior in this respect to the Mallard and the Gadwall. 



THE GADWALL, 



CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS, LINNAEUS. 



The Gadwall is found more or less plentifully over the greater part 

 of Europe and Asia, and is also found in America. It is generally 

 distributed over India during the cold weather, and is nowhere un- 

 common. I found it excessively numerous in Gujerat, more numerous 

 in fact than any other duck, though the Shoveller and the White-eyed 

 Pochard ran it rather close. I do not think I ever went out for a 

 day's duck shooting without killing several Gadwall and on one or two 

 of the best days the bag was almost entirely composed of this species, 

 it frequents medium-sized or large tanks and jheels, eschewing those 

 that are very reedy. I saw many hundreds on the Bamani River, a 

 piece of water much like a broad canal stretching some three or four 

 miles North from the North end of the Null. 



The Gadwall flies swiftly and often at a considerable height, and 

 offers a very sporting shot. It is quite first rate for the table. 



THE PINTAIL DUCK. 



DAFILA ACUTA, LINN^US. 



The Pintail Is found over the greater part of Europe and Asia. 

 It is said in the books to visit India in immense flocks in the cold 

 weather, and to frequent large tanks and jheels. I did not, however, 

 find it by any means common in Gujerat, and it so happened that the 

 largest flight I saw was on a very small pool where, as I have already 

 mentioned I found them in company with Mallard. At Katwara and 

 Hersole I only saw two or three, and it was not until I went to Sable 

 Road that I saw one bagged. Near the Null they were fairly plenti- 

 ful. I found them very wary birds, and they have an awkward habit 



