594 JOURNAL, BOMBA Y NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XII. 



The MergincB are separated from all other ducks by the shape of 

 their bill, which is long, narrow, and pointed, altogether most un-duck- 

 like in its appearance. 



The FulignUnce contain thirteen genera, of which four only are 

 represented in India ; but it is worthy of notice that whilst Netta is 

 one of our most common forms and Clangula one of the most rare, 

 both Nyroca and Fuligula contain forms which are extremely common, 

 and others again of the greatest rarity. 



Key to the Genera, 

 a. Primaries with the bases more or less white. 



a'. Lamellee long and prominent Netta. 



h'. Lamellae short, well apart, not very prominent. 



a". Bill very nearly the same width throughout ...Nyroca. 

 h". Bill distinctly wider at the tip than at the huse.. Fuligula. 

 h. Primaries without any white or whitish on the bases.. C/a?z^w/a. 

 Genus NETTA. 

 The genus Netta contains but one species, distinguished by its bill, 

 which tapers very gradually throughout its length and has the lamellae 

 very stout and prominent. 



The male bird also has a full bushy crest, which has, however, no 

 existence in the female. 



The name Pochard should be pronounced Pokard, not with the soft 

 ch with which I have heard many sportsmen sound it. In many parts 

 of England these ducks are known as Pokers or Poke Ducks, and it is 

 from this the name is derived. 



(30.) Netta kufina. 

 The Red-crested Pochard. 

 Branta rufina. — Jerdon, ''Birds of India," III, p. 811 ; Butler, 

 " Str. Foath.," IV, p. 30 ; ihid, V, p. 203 ; Fairbank, ihid, IV, p. 264. 

 Fuligula rufina. — Hume, " Str. Feath.," I, p. 264 ; Adam, ibid, p. 

 402 ; Hume, iUd, VII, pp. 98 and 493 ; Ball, ibid, p. 232 ; Crips, ibid^ 

 p. 402 ; flume. Cat., No. 967 ; Hume and Marshall, Game Birds, III, 

 p. 253 ; Legge, '* Birds of Ceylon," p. 1087; Butler, " Str. Feath.," 

 IX, p. 438; Reid, iZ'/tZ, X, p. 84; Taylor, ihid, pp. 528 and 531; 

 Barnes, '' Birds of Bombay," p. 412 ; Hume, " Str. Feath.," XI, p. 346. 

 Netta rufina, — Salvadori, " Cat. of British Museum," XXVII, 

 p. 328 ; Blanford, " Avifauna of Birds— India," IV, p. 456. 



