167 



1 . 255. Le grand Pluvier, Buft*., PI. Enl. 919. Great- headed 



Thick-knee. 

 There is no visible difference between the Dukhun and British 

 species. Eyes of very great size. Irides very broad, of a 

 greenish yellow. Length, inclusive of tail, 17 to 18 inches .$ 

 tail 4f- inches. Gregarious. Frequents bushy wilds as well 

 as grass plains. Not met with in woods. Land insects and 

 seeds found in the stomach. Sexes do not differ in size or 

 plumage. This bird rests on the first joint of the leg like the 

 G alius giganteus. 



Order V. NATATORES, III. 

 Fam. Anatidce, Leach.. — Genus Plectrcpterus , Leach. 



213. Plectropterus melanotos, Steph., 12. 8. Anas melanotos, Gmel., 



1. 503. VOie bronzee de Coromandel, Buff., PI. Enl. 937. 



Black and white Plectropterus. Nukta of the Mahrattas. 

 The very large vertical compressed process on the upper man- 

 dible; the white lower part of the back; cinereous rump; and 

 rudimentary black mane down the back neck are not noticed 

 in descriptions of this species. This noble and splendid bird 

 is not common in the Dukhun. Female considerably less in 

 size than the male, and with the metallic reflections much less 

 brilliant ; destitute also of the comb or crest on the upper 

 mandible. Seen in pairs. Horny process on the bend of the 

 wing obtuse. Length, inclusive of tail, 30 to 34 inches ; tail 

 5j to 6 inches. Seeds of water-grasses, and the remarkable 

 quadrangular hard seeds met with in the stomach of the Pte~ 

 rocles exustus found also in the stomach of the Plectropterus. 

 Digastric muscle of the remarkable thickness of 1 ,V inch. 



Genus Anser, Briss. 



214. Anser Girra. Anas Girra, Gray, Indian Zool. Illust. No. 4. 



fig. 6. Girra Teal, Lath. Cotton Teal of Europeans in 

 Dukhun, from the quantity of white in the plumage. 

 Irides bright crimson. 



This handsome bird is one of the smallest of the Anatidce. 

 Length, inclusive of tail, 12| to 14 inches; tail 3 to 3^ inches. 

 Sexes exactly alike. Monogamous. Vegetable matter and 

 gravel found in the stomach. These birds, when wounded, 

 dive, and on returning to the surface show only the bill above 

 water, keeping the body below at pleasure. 



Genus Tadorna, Leach. 



215. Tadorna rutila, Steph., 12. 71. Anas Casarca, Linn., App. 3. 



224. Shieldrake. Bruhmuny Duck of Europeans in Dukhun. 

 Irides yellowish brown. Length, inclusive of tail, male 28 inches, 

 female 25 to 26 inches ; tail 5| inches. For the most part of 

 the year these birds are in pairs ; but on theNerbudda river in 

 Guzerat, Colonel Sykes has seen them congregated in hun- 

 dreds in April. Found in the stomachs of many birds, grass 

 seeds and vegetable matters only. The female is destitute of 



