286 ANATID^E. 



and instead of the delicate ivory-white they are, when fresh, nearly 

 pure white, becoming no doubt yellowish or brownish and sullied 

 as incubation proceeds. Here and there one may exhibit a slight 

 gloss, but as a rule this is almost entirely wanting. 



In length the eggs vary from 1'72 to 2-0, and in breadth from 

 1-4 to 1-6 ; but the average of forty-four is 1-86 by 1'49. 



Dendrocygna fulva (Gmel.). The Larger Whistliwj Teal. 



Dendrocygna major, Jerd., Jerd. B. Ind. ii, p. 790; Hume, Rouyh 

 Draft N. 8> E. no. 953. 



It is from Saugor in the Central Provinces that I have received 

 the only eggs and almost the only specimens I possess of this 

 species. 



One nest was found on the 15th August ; it was a large hollow 

 in an old tree overhanging a large piece of water, rather liberally 

 lined with a few twigs, a good deal of grass, and some feathers. 

 It contained seven eggs, a good deal incubated. 



The eggs, except for size and a somewhat superior smoothness, 

 are precisely like those of the Lesser Whistling Teal very broad 

 regular ovals, moderately smooth to the touch, but with no per- 

 ceptible gloss, and of a dull yellowish- white colour. Probably 

 when first laid the eggs were pure white. 



In length they vary from 2-12 to 2'25, and in breadth from 1-65 

 to 1-75. 



Tadorna casarca (Linn.). The Brahminy Duck. 



Casarca rutila (Pall.), Jerd. B, Ind. ii, p. 791 ; Hume, Rouyh 

 Draft N. $ E. no. 954. 



The Ruddy Sheldrake, or Brahmiuy Duck as in India it is uni- 

 versally called, breeds throughout the high central portion of the 

 interior of the Himalayas. It nests always, the people say, in holes 

 in cliffs overhanging, or at any rate in close proximity to, streams, 

 lakes, or pools, at an elevation of not less than 12,000 and often 

 as high as 16,000 feet. 



I have seen the old birds with crowds of tiny ducklings on several 

 of the Thibetan lakes towards the end of June ; but this was in 

 old days when I cared for none of these things, and I never 

 climbed up to examine a nest-hole, of which many have been 

 pointed out to me in the cliffs, conspicuous by the droppings of 

 the birds. 



In the account of the first Yarkand Mission we say that this 

 species was first noticed at the hot springs above Gokra, at an 

 elevation of 16,000 feet. There they were seen on small lakes 

 that are dotted about on the Salt Plain and all along the Karakash 

 Biver. The young were at that time (July) scarcely able to fly; 

 when approached, the mother made them all dive by swimming and 



