[Chaps. IV & V, , ,^ 



P.VRAS. 8, 9 & 10.] 1-^ 



and lie vises with difficulty, flapping alonj; tlie surface for 

 many yards by tti<' aid of liis feet. He lias a white bill 

 and fioiital disk. 



The Grrebes (Podicipes) have very short round wings 

 and an almost rudimentary tail. They very rarely leave 

 the water, though they are not bad flyers, once they are 

 off it. They are expert divers. The Great Crested Grebe 

 is 22, and the Dabchick only 9, inelies long. The latter 

 species has been mistaken for a duckling. 



The Cormorants, the commonest species of wliicli is 

 the Little Cormorant (PIialacrocoraxJavanirAis), are diving 

 fishers with black or greyish plumage on the upper parts 

 and very often on the lower also. They have longish necks 

 and bills and largisii tails with stiff feathers. The Little 

 Cormorant is about 20 inches long. He has a powerful 

 sustained flight, but also rises with difficulty, flapping for 

 some distance along the suiface. The Cormorants sail 

 occasionally in mid-air, with wings outspread, the Ducks 

 never. 



CHAPTER V. 

 The Thirteen Species Dealt With. 



Dvision of ^' "^^^^ Dncks may conveniently be divided into three 



the U licks classes, viz., the Grey Ducks, the True Ducks and the 

 mai^nclarcf Diving Ducks (Pochaiirls*) (see Key 1 below, col. 2). The 

 (Key 1.) ' Spotbill. the only representative dealt with of Mr. Gates' 

 " Grey Ducks," has a less pointed wing than the "True 

 Ducks." The latter are higlily migratory and require 

 wings fitted for prolonged flight ; the former species is 

 resident and has developed a more blunted and less efficient 

 type of wing. The Teal, which have simply earned a 

 separate popular name on account of their smaller size, 

 are included in the True Ducks, The wings of the Diving 

 Ducks are shorter, their bodies are rounder and their feet 

 placed further back than in the other two classes, and their 

 down and feathers are thicker and more impervious to wet, 

 all characteristics that adapt them specially for taking 

 their food, and diving, under water. 



The difference between the Pocliards and tlie True 

 Ducks is an essential one, and will be traceable through 

 many of the points and habits described, such as Flight, 

 Feeding, Cries, etc. 

 Thirteen ^ iq Thirteen species are dealt with. These are the 



si)ecie8'Ua't ^^j^jj^Qj^gj, j)^^^.]^ to be found in a big shoot on large sheets 

 of water in Upper India. Others might have been 

 added, but the intention is that this little book shall not 



^Pronounced " Pokord,'' "Poker," says Hume, is Norfolk dialect 

 for "diver.'' 



