176 THE PINK-IIEADED DUCK.
and nullahs and ponds hemmed in by forest, appear to be
its favourite, if not its only, haunts. During the cold season it
keeps commonly in small parties of from four to eight or ten,
but is sometimes seen in flocks of from twenty to thirty.
During the breeding season they are found in pairs. Mr.
F. A. Shillingford, who has rendered me more assistance than
any one else where this species is concerned, writes, that it "may
be freely found throughout the year in the southern and western
portions of the Purneah district. From November to April
they are to be met with in flocks, numbering as many as twenty,
along the swamps adjoining the rivers Great Coosee and Ganges ;
and during the rainy season (June to September) I have
observed that they are usually seen in pairs, and are to be met
with generally in the higher parts only of the district. Though
not to be met with in such numbers as the commoner species,
they are not considered at all rare in this district, but they are
difficult to get at, remaining, as they do during the cold season,
in large swamps fringed with dense jungle."
Mr. J. C. Parker writes :—" Years ago I have fired at them
when passing with other Ducks, when out shooting in the bhils
of Kishnaghur and Jessore. They were easy to distinguish by
their beautiful pink heads and salmon-coloured wing-linings.
The flight of this Duck is very powerful and rapid."
"Its call," says Mr. Shillingford, "resembles that of the common
drake, with a slight musical ring about it."
Hodgson notes :- " Lives and breeds below always. Avoids
flowing waters ; shy ; resides in remote jlu'ls and feeds at night."
Jerdon says:—" It shows a decided preference for tanks and
jhils well sheltered by overhanging bushes, or abounding in
dense reeds ; and in such places it may be found in the cold
season in flocks of twenty or so occasionally, but generally in
smaller parties of from four to eight. During the heat of the
day, it generally remains near the middle of the tank or jhil,
and is somewhat shy and wary."
Mr. Shillingford says that the gizzard of one specimen that
he examined contained "half-digested water weeds and various
kinds of small shells."
Beyond this there is absolutely nothing on record.
MR. F. A. SHILLINGFORD and his brother had found the eggs
of this species in former years ; but the egg he sent me was so
very peculiar that I hesitated to accept it as genuine, and at my
request he, and several of his friends, set to work to discover a
a nest, and he was soon able to send me the following note :—
" On the 3rd of July Mr. T. Hill, of Jouneah Factory,
succeeded in finding a nest of the Pink-headed Duck near
the Dabcepoor Factory.
" The nest contained nine much incubated eggs, of which
THE PINK-HEADED DUCK.
I send you four. These, as you will observe, are of precisely
the same type as the one I formerly sent you.
"The nest was well hidden in tall grass (Audrojmgou innticatum),
and both male and female were started from the vicinity
of the nest, which was about 400 yards from a nullah containing
water. The nest was well formed, made of dry grass, interspersed
with a few feathers, the interior portion being circular,
anil about 9 inches in diameter and 4 to 5 inches deep."
To the Asian he sent the following further interesting note :—
"During the cold weather, November to March, the Pinkheaders
remain in flocks, varying from 6 to 30, or even 40 birds,
in the lagoons adjoining the larger rivers, and have been observed
by myself in considerable numbers in the southern and
western portions of this district, that portion of Eastern Bhaugulpore
which lies immediately to the north of the river Ganges,
and the south-western parts of Maldah. They come up to the
central or higher parts of the Purneah district in pairs, during the
month of April, begin to build in May, and their eggs may be
found in June and July. The nests are well formed, (made of
dry grass interspersed with a few feathers,) perfectly circular
in shape, about 9 inches in diameter, and 4 or 5 inches deep,
with 3 to 4-inch walls, and have no special lining. The nests
are placed in the centre of tufts of tall grass, well hidden, and
difficult to find, generally not more than 500 yards from water.
They la}' from 5 to 10 eggs in a nest. Both the male and female
have been started simultaneously from the vicinity of the nest ;
but whether the former assists in incubation is uncertain,
though, judging from the loss of weight during the breeding
season, the male must be in constant attendance at the nest.
The weights of five males, shot between 13th February and 28th
June ib'8o, in consecutive order being—(1), 2 lbs. 3 ozs. (13th
February) ; (2), I lb. 14 ozs. ; (3), 2 lbs. ; (4), I lb. 13 ozs. ; and (5),
1 lb. 12 ozs., (28th June). When the young are fledged in September
and October, the Pink-headers retire with the receding waters
to their usual haunts—the jungly lagoons.
" The following account, as indicating their strong attachment
to their young, may prove of interest. On the 17th July 1880,
whilst searching for Pink-header's nests with T. H. at the northern
extremity of Patraha Katal, where nests were reported, we
flushed a female Pink-header in the grass jungle on the banks of
the Patraha jhil. T. H. fired with his Miniature Express at a
distance of about 300 yards at the bird which had settled at the
other end of the jhil. The ball was seen by both of us to strike
the water some distance above, and a little to the left of the bird
which did not rise. Upon going up to the spot, to our surprise
she fluttered about and dragged herself along with loud
quackings. Being closely pursued, she flew along at an elevation
of about 6 feet from the ground in a manner that led us
to believe that she was badly wounded, and one of her wings
Y