WATERS OF WESTERN INfilA. 225 



rare. The Shoveller abounds, but is here little esteemed by sports- 

 men, because of its familiar habits. It may commonly be seen 

 daddling in dirty little puddles besides villages, almost as tame as 

 the Pea-fowl, and not much more particular in its diet. 



The Pink-headed Duck of Bengal probably does not occur. The 

 Gadwall, Pin-tail and Wigeon are abundant; the last two in larger 

 flocks, and more locally distributed than the first. The common 

 Teal and Gargauey abound, and the latter remains later than any 

 other migrant duck, quite up to the end of April and even the 

 beginning of May. The birds just named, with the Spot billed 

 Duck and White-eyed Pochard, are the ducks most commonly fouud 

 in the bag in Gujarat. I have shot the Marbled Teal in Gujarat 

 and Kattywar, but it is a rare bird. The Red-crested and Red- 

 headed Pochards both occur; but being powerful and wary birds, 

 and affecting the wider waters, are less commonly shot. The Scaup 

 may occur as a straggle'r, and the Tufted Pochard is locally common , 

 especially towards the N.- W. Frontier. 



The Merganser and Scaup are rare stragglers, as is the Crested 

 Grebe. The Dabchiek is common all over India wherever there 

 is water. The Gulls and Terns, very abundant in some places, are 

 the same as those of the Sind region, and are mostly recorded by 

 Captain Butler. I am surprised, however, to find 8. javanica not 

 noted as a Gujarat bird in his list, as it is not uncommon on the 

 Subarmati or Ahmedabad river. I have not seen the Skimmer 

 (Bhynchops albicollis), but I think it has been obtained on the 

 large estuaries. 



The Lesser White Pelican is not uncommon in the cold weather ; 

 and I think that the European Pelican will probably be found to 

 occur at least as a straggler. The Grey Pelican is common, and 

 breeds. The rivers of Gujarat sometimes flood very rapidly, a sort 

 of wall of water pouring down the dry bed, and on the crest of 

 this, or little behind it, amidst a confusion of drift and mnddy foam, 

 the Grey Pelican may often be seen looking almost the spirit of 

 the deluge. 



The Great Cormorant is rare, the lesser and little Cormorants are 

 common ; and the last a permanent resident, as is the Snake Bird. 

 Of all lands that I have shot in, Gujarat is the best for wild 

 fowling in a modest way. The number and variety of birds is 

 less than in many other places, but still sufficient to satisfy any 

 reasonable sportsman. The multitude of tanks, and the great variety 



