HTDROPHASIANUS. 259 



ttey are hatched and hide themselves among very scanty cover. Found 

 also in Beloochistan, Afghanistan and Persia, and probably Mesopotamia. 



Family, PARRID^. 



Bill long", one and a half or twice the length of the head ; nostril* 

 lateral ; wings spurred or with a tubercle ; tarsi long ; toes long with 

 long claws. 



Sub-Family, PARRIN^. 



Gen. Hydrophasianus— ?Fagf^. 



1st and 2nd quill of wing equal and longest ; primaries with lan- 

 ceolate appendage to the tips. 



Hydrophasianus chirurgus, Scoj).-, Lath. Syn. 8uppl.-p\. 177; 

 Gould. Cat. H. B. pi. 77; id. B. As. pi. 3; Jerd. B. Ltd. iii. 709; Hume, 

 Str. F. i. p. 249 ; Murray, Hdbk., Zool, Sfc, Sind, p. 222. {Peehoo, 

 Sind.) — The Pheasant-tailed Jacana. 



In winter plumage, the forehead, crown, a streak from the base of the 

 bill through the eye, extending down each side of the neck on to the 

 breast and forming a pectoral gorget, also the back of the neck, dusky 

 or pale hair brown, the feathers on the forehead and crown tipped with 

 white; supercilium white, and a pale golden yellow line from behind the 

 eye ; back, scapulars, tertials and lesser wing-coverts glossy olive, 

 or pale hair brown; the lower back, rump, upper tail-coverts and 

 central tail feathers slightly darker, and the lesser wing-coverts 

 mottled and barred transversely with white. Shoulder of wing spurred. 

 First pi'imary with an appendage, the shaft of 2nd, 3rd and 4th in 

 some specimens hair like at the tip, all dark brown, and, except the first 

 and second, broadly white on their inner and outer webs ; greater 

 coverts and secondaries, chin, throat, neck in front, abdomen, vent and 

 under tail-coverts white; tail 3' 5 to 4 inches. In breeding plumage 

 the forehead, crown, entire face, chin, throat and neck in front white. 

 There is a black patch on the nape ; and the neck beliiud is shining 

 golden yellow, edged on the sides with black ; back, scapulars and 

 tertiaries dark olive brown, with purplish reflections ; rump and upper 

 tail-covei'ts bronzed dark brown ; tail black ; breast and entire lower 

 parts dark or deep dusky brown ; shoulder of wing spurred ; wing- 

 coverts white ; primaries as in the winter plumage. 



Length. — 18 to 20 inches, irides dark brown, bill plumbeous at the 

 base and tipped greenish, 1'25 in length, tail 10 to 11 inches, wing 8 

 to 8 '5, tarsus 2-12, middle toe and claw 3 inches, hind toe and claw 

 2 inches. 



Hah. — Throughout India and Ceylon. Common in Sind on the 

 Munchur and other Lakes, also in the Punjab and N. W. Provinces. 

 Breeds in the Province from May to September, making a large float- 

 ing nest. Eggs pear-shaped, of a beautiful bronze colour. 



