latter, as it undoubtedly does in Berar, where Major Mackenzie
has observed it. Chota Nagpore and Bengal (excluding Behar
and Purneah) appear to be quite out of its range, though individuals
may straggle anywhere into both, just as I myself twice (in
the course often years, however, be it noted) procured examples
in the Calcutta market.
As at present informed, I believe that a line drawn from a
little north of Bombay to the Bhutan Duars, would approximately
indicate the furthest southern and eastern limits of its
normal range in India; and, although I myself procured it (as
above) at Calcutta, and Blyth heard of it at Raniganj, and
Mr. Inglis assures me that he has obtained it (though it is very
rare there) in Cachar, I can at present only regard these occurrences
as abnormal, and these localities as quite outside its
natural range.*
Broadly speaking, the normal range of this species may be
stated as the entire northern hemisphere from the 20th to the
70th degree N. Lat, but practically it may be defined as the
northern temperate zone, since comparatively few either go
south of the Tropic of Cancerf- or enter the Arctic Circle.
Looking, therefore, to its general distribution, it is curious that
it should be practically absent from the Deltaic districts of
Bengal, Northern Arakan, Cfnttagong, Sylhet, and above all
Assam ; and yet from all these localities my correspondents
report that they have never seen or heard of it.
It is very common, especially in winter, in Central Asia.t and
though Kashmir supplies many of our Mallard, doubtless the
* From various parts of Southern India, and even from Ceylon, come vague
stories of the Mallard having heen seen or shot. But 1 have been unable to ascertain
that any specimen has ever been preserved in any of these Southern localities, and
equally so to trace out any individual who has himself IMS or shot the bird there.
Of course a straggler of a species like the present might turn up any where, but up to
date there is no valid evidence. I believe, of any Mallard having actually thus straggled
to either Southern India or Ceylon.
t Rltppell no doubt says it occurs in Abyssinia, but this seems to need confirmation.
X Dr. Scully writes :—
"The Mallaid occurs in great numbers in Kashgharia during the whole winter,
when it is decidedly llie commonest of the Duck tribe. In spring and summer it
seemed to be less plentiful ; but this may perhaps have been because it was cast into
the shade by the great variety of other Ducks and Teal then breeding about Yarkand.
In winter it was usually found near unfrozen springs and streams, and in
summer in lakes and swamps associated with other species of Duck. The condition
of a female obtained in April (which contained an egg almost ready for exclusion),
and the occurrence of the two young birds preserved in July, prove conclusively
that this Duck breeds near Yarkand. The Varkandis say that of the twenty odd
species of Duck, which they discriminate, the Mallard is the only permanent resident
in the vicinity of Kashghar and Varkand ; that it lays in April, the number of eggs
varying from ten to fifteen; and that the nest is placed amongst Yekan, i.e.,
rushes.
" A couple of Mallards, kept in confinement in a tank inside the Residency at
Yjrkand, formed a great friendship with a Ked-ciested Pochard [Fuligula rufuia),
and a Coot, who were also captives; but they would never associate with tanic
Ducks, always driving the latter away when they approached."
majority of those that visit the northern portions of Oudh and
the North-West Provinces come from Yarkand.
To THE greater portion of its range, within our limits, the
Mallard is a cold weather migrant, appearing towards the close
of October ; but in the submontane districts of the Punjab,
Oudh, and the North-West Provinces, individuals are often seen
much earlier, so much so as to awaken a suspicion that some
few may breed near the bases of, as well as in, the Himalayas.
I have known adults to be shot near Rawul Pindee, Sialkot,
and in the Dun in August, and a recent correspondent to
the Asian says :—
" A pair of Mallard, (Anas boscas, Lin.) were seen by me on the
29th of July, in a large jhil in the Fyzabad district, and
numbers of the same during the past month (August)."
Similarly, although they leave the greater portion of the plains
before the 15th of April, and the more southern parts (Etawah
for instance or Sindh) as a rule by the end of March, I have
known of several pairs being seen near Attock as late as the 2nd
of May.
In India, even in the far North-West and in Sindh, where
many hundreds may be met with in a day, the Mallard is rarely
seen in large flocks, and is almost invariably in small knots of
three to ten in number, or towards the close of the season in
pairs. In the North-West Provinces they are usually met
with In the larger jhfls and broads, but in the Punjab and
Sindh they are equally common on the larger rivers and inland
waters.
With us they feed chiefly by night, often changing their
ground for this purpose about dusk, though not with the regularity
observable in the case of wild fowl at home, while
during the day, at any rate between 10 A.M. and 3 P.M., they
are, if undisturbed, almcst always asleep. On our rivers, you
find the party pretty close together, but not huddled into a
lump like some other species, snoozing on the bank at the
water's edge, while in broads you find them floating motionless
in some secluded nook of pellucid water screened in by
bulrushes and reeds, and often overhung by tamarisk or other
trees.
Compared with many other species they are tame and
unsuspicious, or perhaps I should say, unwary. With the most
ordinary precautions you may always, (where they are not much
worried), make sure of some out of every party that you meet
with. To quote what I said of this species many years ago :—
" In the North-Wcstcrn Provinces, compared with other ducks,
the Mallard is scarce, and so it is in the Punjab Cis-Satlej ;
but, as you proceed further west, its numbers increase, and
all down the Jhelum and the Chenab, from Jhelum to Mooltan,
U