ANAS PCECILORHYNCHA. 
1075 
accidentally trod on him when walking through the water in search of one of the others ! ” I have however, 
seen " flappers ” of the Common Wild Duck remain a sen long time under mater. The call of this species 
is said to he like that of the Mallard, but not often repeated. 
Nidification. — The breeding-season of the Spotted-billed Duet in India is in July and August. It 
usually constructs a nest of grass and rushes, lined frith down and feathers placed on the ground among 
rashes, long grass, reeds, or sedge. Mr. Hume, however, speaks of a nest which mas placed on the drooping 
branch of a tree, which hung down into a thick clump of rashes in a jheel. It was about 9 inches above the 
water, and was firmly based „ a her, rental trifurcation of the bough. Fine grass was ming led in Ins rase 
with the down and feathers, which; as usual, must have been plucked by the tad from ts body The 
number of eggs does not appear to exceed seven; they are described as broad ovals, smooth n texture, and 
Xte or greyish white in colour. They vary in length, says Mr. Hume, from *08 to *3 inches, and m 
breadth from 1‘65 to 1 ' 8 . 
