2r)8 INDIAN DUCKS 



Genus NYKOCA. 



The genus Nyroca, with which I include the Scaup and Tufted 

 Pochard, formerly placed by me under the genus Fuligulu, contains 

 about a dozen species and subspecies, of which five are found within 

 Indian limits. 



From Netta tlie present genus differs in having smaller lamelhe, 

 placed further apart and less prominent. The genus is a cos- 

 mopolitan one, and contains one of our most common ducks, the 

 White-eye, and one of our rarest, the Scaup. 



Key to Spcrifft and Si(hf:pccicf:. 



A. Sides of liill practically parallel throughout. 



a. Back and scapulars distinctly barred or veniiiculat.eil X. fcriiia J. 



b. Back and scapulars merely speckled. 



a' . Head and neck dull chestnut or Ijay .... A'', n. nyroca 3 . 

 //. Head and neck almost black X. n. hacri 3 . 



c. Upper Ijack and head rufous-brown, scapulars slightly 



vermiculated, no white speculum A^ fcrina ? . 



d. No vermiculations on upper jiluniage, a white 



si)eculum. 



c . Head and neck rufous-brown .V. «. ntjroca ? . 



d' . Head and neck mixed with blackish on the sides X n. luifn ? . 



B. Bill increasing in widtli towards the end and narrower 



at base. 



e. Head never crested, back and scapulars in adult not 



black A", niarila. 



f. Head always more or less crested and scapulais in 



adults black, more or less sprinkled with whitish .Y. fiilliiiiln. 



N. n. uijroca is a smaller bird than X. ii. harri. In the former the 

 wing is always below 7'5 inches, in the latter nearly always above 

 7 '5 inches. 



Y'oung specimens of the Tufted Pochard (fiiJif/ula) have not 

 always a very distinct crest, but Mr. Finn has pointed out to me a 

 very distinctive character in this duck, and this is the wonderful silky 

 or satiny whiteness of the lower parts. Even when the white is not 

 very pure, the satin-like texture is most apparent, and serves at once 

 to separate the Tufted Pochard from all others. 



