286 



AN1T1D..E. 



Lags. Where frequently disturbed they feed inland only at night ; 

 where rarely molested they will be found feeding up to eight or nine 

 in the morning, and again long before sunset. Preferentially they 

 feed in fields in the neighbourhood of the larger rivers, browsing on the 

 young wheat, vetches, lentils, &c. They are not difficult to bag, especially 

 in localities where they are not disturbed by shooting. Walking beside a 

 pony, or bullock, one can always get within 35 or 40 yards of a flock, 

 and bag at least a dozen birds with a couple of effective shots. In 

 localities which have been frequently shot over the birds are veiy 

 wary, and unless there is plenty of cover a buffaloe or pony becomes a 

 necessity. "In such cases," as Mr. Hume says, "it is best to make sure 

 of your one or two birds on the ground with the first shot, as you will 

 seldom have time for more than one shot after they rise." Mr. H ume, in 

 his Game Birds of India, gives many hints as to shooting geese and 

 wild fowl generally. The habits of the Duck tribe and the various 

 methods adopted for netting them are very interesting, and of much 

 value to sportsmen generally. 



Family, A^ATIBJE.— Vigors. 

 Bill flat, broad, laminated at the sides. 



Sub-Family, PLECTROPTERIN^.— (?. R. Gray. 



Bill long and broad, tip horny ; knee and above bare ; tarsi with 

 squarish scales; hind toe long; wing with one or more spurs on the 

 shoulder ; a fleshy carbuncle at base of upper mandible ; plumage 

 glossy black. 



Gen. Sarkidiornis.— %io?z. 



Characters those of the Sub-Family ; 1st and 2nd primaries sub- 

 equal and longest. 



Sarkidiornis melanonotus, Penn. Ind. Zool. pi. 11 ; Jerd. B. 

 Ind. iii. 785 ; Sir. F. iv. 27 ; vi. 486 ; viii. 387 ; Murray, Hdhk., Zool., 

 Sfc, Bind, p. 234 ; Hume and Marsh. Game B. Ind. iii. p. 91. — The 

 Comb Duck. 



Top of the head and back of neck black, spotted with white, mora 

 so on the back of the neck ; cheeks, sides and front of the neck white, 

 with a few black spots ; breast and entire under parts white; chin and 

 thi'oat white ; back, scapulars, tertiaries and wing-coverts glossy 

 black, glossed with purple ; upper tail-coverts glossed greenish ; pri- 

 maries and secondaries black ; the lesser wing-coverts glossed with 

 purplish green; tail black; bill of male with a fleshy protuberance; 

 irides dark brown ; bill black. 



Length. — 28 to 30 inches, wing 13 to 15, tail 6. Female is smaller, 

 and less brightly coloured. 



ira6.— Sind, Punjab, N. W. Provinces, Oudh, Bengal, Rajputana, 

 Kutch, Kattiawar, Guzerat, Concan and Deccan, South India and 

 Ceylon. 



