198 ANATID/E. 



The female is dull rufous brown above, with paler edges to the feathers, 

 the crest is less developed and deep rufous brown in colour ; feathers about 

 the bill pale yellowish white ; breast on the centre yellowish or fulvous white, 

 tinged with greenish: under parts white, with faint dusky bars of brown; 

 speculum white ; the under tail coverts white, with a few spots of pale brown. 



Hab. — Sind, Beloochistan, Persia, Afghanistan, Punjab, N.-W. and Central 

 Provinces, Oudh, Bengal, Rajputana, Kutch, Guzerat, Concan, Deccan, Cen- 

 tral and Southern India. 



This duck frequents chiefly open tanks, jheels and small dhunds overgrown 

 with weeds. It feeds chiefly on small molluscs and insects. In the stomachs 

 of a few obtained by me at Sehvvan were species of Nepida:, a species of 

 Ranatra being the most common. They dive and swim well, and remain for 

 some time under water in search of minute molluscs, roots and seeds. They 

 are said to be good eating, but after January the flesh has a peculiar flavour, 

 which renders it unpalatable. 



Fuligula riiarila. Tlie Scaup Pochard. 



237. Fuligula marlla (X/;/;/.), Bodd. Tab. P. E. loc2 ; Gould, 

 B. Eur. pi. 371 ; Jerd., B. hid. iii. p. 814, No. 970 ; Murray, Hdbk., ZooL, 

 Sfc, Sind, p, 239 ; id., Vert. ZooL, Sind, p. 305 ; Hu?7ie, Game Birds Ind. iii. 

 p. 271 ; Murray, Avif. Brit. hid. ii. p. 699, No. 1401. — The Scaup Pochard. 



" Male. — Head and neck black, glossed with green ; top of the back and 

 scapulars whitish, with zigzag black lines ; lower back and upper tail coverts 

 black ; tail brown ; wing coverts black, marbled with ashy ; speculum white ; 

 quills brown; lower neck and breast deep black; abdomen and sides pure white, 

 with brown zigzag markings on the lower portion ; under tail coverts black ; 

 bill clear bluish above, dusky below, the tip black; irides brilliant yellow ; legs 

 bluish ashy ; webs blackish." {Jerdon.^ 



Length. — 19 to 20 inches ; wing 9 inches ; tail 2'5 ; bill at front nearly 2 ; 

 tarsus 1*5. The measurements of a female given by Mr, Hume are — Length, 

 18 inches, expanse 28, wing 875, tail 2'5, tarsus 1*33, bill along ridge rS^. 



