. A natural history of the ducks . icial resemblanceto that of the Comb Duck (Sareidiomis). Food. Practically nothing of interest is recorded. One gizzard examined con-tained water-weeds and various small shells. Courtship and Nesting. During the month of April these birds begin to pair,and are said by Shillingford to go up to the central or higher parts of the PurneahDistrict. The nest is placed in the center of tufts of tall grass, well hidden, and dif-ficult to find, generally not more than five hundred yards from the water. The nestis well formed of dry grass, interspersed with a few feath
. A natural history of the ducks . icial resemblanceto that of the Comb Duck (Sareidiomis). Food. Practically nothing of interest is recorded. One gizzard examined con-tained water-weeds and various small shells. Courtship and Nesting. During the month of April these birds begin to pair,and are said by Shillingford to go up to the central or higher parts of the PurneahDistrict. The nest is placed in the center of tufts of tall grass, well hidden, and dif-ficult to find, generally not more than five hundred yards from the water. The nestis well formed of dry grass, interspersed with a few feathers, 227 mm. in diameterand 102 mm. to 127 mm. deep, with no special lining. Both male and female havebeen found in the vicinity of the nest, and it is possible that the former occasionallyassists in incubating, for Shillingford found that it lost much weight during thebreeding season. Hume and Marshall (1879) describe the eggs as very peculiar, andquite unlike those of any other duck. They are nearly spherical, while the shell is. Map 7. Distribution of Pink-headed Duck (Rhodonessa caryophyllacea) PINK-HEADED DUCK 93 of close texture, but not smooth or satiny, and without gloss. Finn (1919) saysthey remind one of a set of billiard balls. In color they are pure white or faintlyyellowish, and measure about mm. by mm. This is the only duck that laysa spherical egg. The young are on the wing in September and October, and the birdsthen retire to their usual winter haunts. Status of Species. According to Finn (1915) the Pink-head is not nearly asplentiful in the Calcutta Market as it used to be in the nineties of the last that time they could be bought for fifteen rupees, but at present, informants tellhim that probably an offer of one hundred rupees would not bring a single speci-men. He thinks it is possible that the species has become shy by too persistent net-ting; certainly the birds, on account of their extremely limited range, should begiven absolute prot
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Keywords: ., bookauthorgrnvoldh, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, bookyear1922
