280 My Pond and Its Occupants. 
a heavy growth of weed had made fishing impossible. 
So, last autumn I introduced pairs each of : 
Di'CKs. Ycllow-billcd (.■!//«* f/ui-iro\/rii), Mandarin {Aex t^alericiil- 
ata), Pintai) (fJafila acuta), Rosy-billed {Melopiana pcposaca), Ked-crested 
iiSetla ni/iiui), Wigeon [Aiarcca pcnclojie), Chilian and Ruddy Sheld- 
ducks (T casarca). 
Of these only the Yellow-billed Ducks and Red-crested 
Pochardb nested. The eggs of the former proved infertile, 
but nine young Red-crests were hatched out and eight of these 
Nest nad Eggs of Rcd-crcst-^d J'oci.aril. 
are now strong, well developed birds. I was rather disap- 
pomted with such small results as, I thought that with such 
good natural surroundings, most of the ducks would have at- 
tempted to reproduce their kind. 
The little Dabchicks (Little Grebes) have nested twice. 
Disaster attended their first brood— owing to the water Jiaving 
to be drawn off the pond for a few hours— the young Dab- 
