(AINE) 
Thibet for Geese, Ducks, Teals, Snipe and a countless number of 
other birds, which offer sport to sportsmen ; a savory dish to the 
eater ; or interesting and pleasant associations for those who have a 
friendly disposition for creatures great and small. As our eyes and 
ears, on bright moonlight nights, or in the still perceptible light of 
evenings in spring, catch the merry, joyous, homeward bound 
pilgrims of the night, who can read our thoughts? We can but 
vaguely express in words that awe and reverence to the Creator, who 
has given these birds a safe haven of rest in that “closed land,” 
where we can learn so little of their nidification. With what different 
feelings do we view these merry, shouting or whistling battalions 
hastening to the balmy east, or rather south, for as they pass over 
Darjeeling their course invariably is due south; to more congenial 
winters, in the plains of India, when the snows have already 
whitened the lofty passes, over which they have had to cross. The 
feelings in most of us are, that, the stifling and humid heat of the 
plains is over ; that an ideal winter has set in; but there are other 
feelings also; that the guns must be got ready to try to break 
another record, and that the shikaries go out to hunt up good likely 
places, and observe the night before, where new arrivals have settled. 
The Grey lag Goose must make merry, many a Christmas party, of 
peace on earth and good will towards men. The common wild goose, 
must be well known to all. In size it is large, about 31 inches ; 
bill, high at the base ; lamelle, tooth-like ; toes longish ; claws short 
and curved ; neck of fair length ; back, head, neck and most of the 
wing coverts, reddish brown, feathers white greyish edges ; bluish 
grey on upper portions of the primaries and lesser wing-coverts, 
rest of the primaries and secondaries are black ; rump and sides of 
upper tail-coverts are white ; tail brown and white on the sides ; 
breast greyish-white with wavy bars ; under tail-coverts white : the 
remaining and lower parts of the body white ; bill orange red, tip 
light in colour ; irides brown ; legs red. 
(946) ANSER BRACHYRHYNCHUS, Pink-footed Goose, is not likely 
to be met with either near or passing over the district. Together 
with Dwarf, White-fronted, and the Barred-headed Goose, are winter 
visitants in the plains and keep much to dryer portions of the 
country, towards the north-west. 
(950) SARKIDIORNIS MELANONOTUS, Black-backed Goose, though 
fairly rare in Bengal, it is more frequently met with in other parts, 
chiefly Central and Western India. This is Comb-duck of sportsmen 
or better known as Nukta, owing to fleshy protuberance on the 
culmen (upper mandible), this comb is about 2 inches in height, 
giving the duck an uncommon appearance. Male about 34 inches 
34 
