GARGANEY TEAL 
129 
being the Malayan Archipelago) were shot by Mr. 
William Lewis on Lake Connewarre. He was out 
on the Lake after Duck, and had just got within range 
of a large flock of Grey Teal, when he noticed some 
strange birds among them. Firing, he brought down 
a pair of these interesting Ducks, which he sent in to 
a Geelong fishmonger, by whom they were sold to 
the late Mr. William Shaw, who set them up and 
had them identified in Melbourne. 
It is, of course, very easy to say that these birds 
were escapees from a Zoo ; it is, indeed, a statement 
which is made with the utmost regularity every time 
a hitherto unknown bird is recorded. But it has not 
been proved in the case either of the Garganey Teal 
or of one or two other notable finds in the Geelong 
district. There are not many zoological gardens in 
Australia, and one would suppose that a pair of 
valuable birds like these would be missed at once ; 
but no such loss was reported from any of them. An 
Asiatic Wagtail was once shot in Queensland. No 
doubt attached to its genuineness, I suppose because 
Wagtails are not usually kept in a Zoo. If this weak- 
flighted little bird found its way down from the 
Philippine Islands, why should not a pair of strong- 
winged Ducks be supposed capable of a slightly more 
extended flight ? 
