Descrijjtive List of Birds 



176. Ardetta minuta : The Little Bittern. 

 F. 1570. J- 935. -IV. K. 



Upper parts buff glossed with green. Breast 

 buff. Some buff in the wings. Legs greenish- 

 yellow. This little bird, which the Kashmiris 

 call Goi^ is very common on the Kashmir lakes. 

 During the daytime it lies up hidden in the 

 reeds. After sunset the little bitterns emerge 

 and take up fishing stations in the shallow water 

 of the lakes and waterways. Dozens of these 

 little herons may be seen by anyone out in 

 a shikar a on the Dal Lake just before nightfall. 



Ducks 



Two species of duck breed on the lakes in 

 the vale of Kashmir ; but, owing to their eggs 

 being collected for the Srinagar market, they 

 are now rarely seen on the Dal Lake. They 

 occur on the other lakes. 



177. Anas boscas : The Mallard or Wild 

 Duck. F. 1592, J. 958, V. K, 



The Wild Duck of England. 



Male : September to May. Head glistening 

 emerald-green, with white collar round neck. 

 Breast chestnut. Shoulders finely barred white 

 and brown. Middle back brown. Lower 

 back and middle tail feathers black glossed 

 195 



