242 Capt. L. H. Irby o?i Birds 



155. Rhynchvea bengxVLEnsis. (Painted Snipe.) 



Found in small numbers throughout the year. Like the 

 Jacksnipe, this bird will not rise till nearly trodden upon, and 

 then only flies a few yards. 



156. Metopidius indicus. 



Very common in the rainy season; frequenting weedy, grassy 

 jheels. 



157. Hydrophasianus chirurgus. 



Very common in the rainy season ; arrives in June, and last 

 seen in September. When flying, which it does very strongly 

 and fast, its screams may be heard a long way. This handsome 

 Jacana is included in Mr. Gould's Century of Birds fi*om the 

 Himalaya. It is certainly rare in Kumaon ; I never saw it there 

 during the two hottest months in the year ; and there is no 

 locality there adapted to its habits — not even the mountain lakes. 



158. Grus ANTIGONE. (Saras Crane.) 



Found in great numbers in the cold season, generally in pairs, 

 though sometimes in flocks, whereas the Common and Demoiselle 

 Cranes are always seen in flocks. Many Saras remain to 

 breed in Oudh, forming an immense nest of grass and rushes 

 in the centre of large jheels. The number of eggs, which are 

 laid in June, is generally two : some eggs are pure white ; others 

 white, spotted with red at the larger end. The young birds are 

 easily reared by hand, and become very tame and attached to the 

 person who feeds them, following him like a dog. They are 

 veiy amusing birds, going through the most grotesque dances 

 and antics, and are well worth keeping in captivity. One which 

 I kept, when bread and milk was given to him, would take the 

 bread out of the milk, and wash it in his pan of water before 

 eating it. This bird, which was taken out of the King's Palace 

 at Lucknow, was very fierce towards strangers and dogs, espe- 

 cially if they were afraid of him : he was very noisy, the only 

 bad habit he possessed. The natives say that if a Siras be killed, 

 its mate will never pair again ; certainly I have heard the 

 survivor calling all night for its mate, and since then I never 

 would shoot them. 



The flesh somewhat resembles that of a Goose ; it makes capital 



