40 GLIMPSES OF INDIAN BIRDS 



On another part of the jhil a pair of spot-billed 

 ducks (Anas poecilorhyncha) settle down. These are 

 recognisable even at a considerable distance when in 

 the water by the white patch on each flank. As there 

 are two of these birds together it is probable that they 

 have a nest hidden in one of the sedge-covered islets 

 studded about the tank. The other ducks disturbed by 

 our approach are whistling teal {Dendrocycna javanica), 

 • which occur in considerable flocks, and a few comb- 

 duck {Sarcidiornis melanotus). All these species of 

 duck and teal are permanent residents in India. 



Not a single coot is to be seen upon the jhil. The 

 explanation of this is that this particular tank dries 

 up in the hot weather, and coots usually keep to those 

 lakes that contain water all the year round. 



Half a dozen terns form a conspicuous and beautiful 

 feature of the jhil. As they sail overhead, with every 

 now and then a descent to the water to secure a frog 

 or small fish, their silvery wings stand out boldly from 

 a dark cloud on the southern horizon. The terns at 

 the jhil are all of the black-bellied species (Sterna 

 melanogaster) . The other species haunt rivers in pre- 

 ference to shallow lakes. 



Last, but not least, mention must be made of Pallas's 

 fishing eagle (Haliaetus leucoryphus) . One or more 

 pairs of this bird are to be seen in the vicinity of every 

 jhil. In the earlier part of the day they are active, 

 screaming creatures, but when once they have made 

 a good meal off a teal or some fish they become very 

 sluggish. Two of them are sitting about fifty yards 

 apart on a hand alongside the jhil, looking like kites 



