248 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds 



killed two birds of this species, and saw a third; these are the 

 only ones I noticed. At the time I could not make out what 

 Goose it was, and was unable to find out, till I saw some alive in 

 the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park. It is probably very rare 

 in India. 



199. Bernicla indica. (Barred Goose.) 



Exceedingly numerous in the cold season on the large rivers, 

 such as the Gogra, Choka, and Korialla; is seldom seen on 

 jheels, and is scarcely worth shooting for the pot. 



200. Dendrocygna arcuata. {" Tree Duck,'' " Whistling 

 Teal," and "Rain Teal" of Europeans.) 



Appears in great numbers at the commencement of the rainy 

 season, and is then seen in pairs ; towards the middle of the cold 

 season they are seen in flocks of eight or ten — probably the old 

 birds and their young. This Duck, when on the wing, has a 

 peculiar whistling cry. It flies very heavily, shows no sport, and 

 its flesh is dry and tasteless. The large species of Rain Teal 

 (Z). major) I did not observe in Oudh, but doubtless it occurs 

 there. 



201. Sarcidiornis melanotus. 



This curious and handsomely-coloured Duck is not common 

 in Oudh, and when observed was on jheels, not rivers. I saw 

 it in May, June, and July; and once, in November, saw a small 

 flock, all in the sombre plumage of immature males or females. 

 The adult male, with the boss on the beak, I only observed four 

 times. In all the family of Anatida there is probably no species 

 in which there is such a difference in size between the male and 

 female; the former is nearly double the weight of the latter; 

 when on the wing this diff"erence is very apparent. The boss on 

 the beak varies in size, probably according to the age of the 

 bird; in the plate given in the ' PI. Enl.' 937, the boss is smaller 

 than most which I have seen. The flesh of this Duck is, unlike 

 that of other Tree Ducks, very good. 



202. Nettapus coromandelicus. 



Very common ; arriving about the same time as D. arcuata, 

 but departing sooner. 



