284 BIRDS OF BRITISH BTJRMAH. 



other large Ducks, it is met with in flocks ; and it frequents alike rivers, 

 lakes, marshes, and ponds. The nest is placed on the ground in clumps of 

 grass and reeds ; and the eggs, which are sometimes as many as thirteen in 

 number, are pale yellowish white. 



Genus RHODONESSA, Reich. 



645. RHODONESSA CARYOPHYLLACEA. 



THE PINK- HEADED DUCK. 



Anas caryophyllacea, Lath. 2nd. Orn. ii. p. 866 ; Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 800 ; Hume, 

 Nests and Eggs, p. 644; Bl. B. Burm. p. 16-5; Hume, S. F. vii. p. 492, viii. 

 p. 501. Khodonessa caryophyllacea, Hume, S. F. viii. p. 115; Hume fy 

 Marsh. Game Birds, iii. p. 173, pi. 



Description. Male. The whole head, the sides and back of the neck rosy 

 pink ; entire front of the neck, the whole lower plumage, back, rump, upper 

 tail-coverts, tail, upper wing-coverts, scapulars and tertiaries dark glossy 

 brown; secondaries salmon-colour, forming a speculum; primaries brownish 

 salmon-colour, paler on the inner webs ; edge of the wing broadly whitish ; 

 under wing-coverts pinkish white. 



The female has the pink of the head duller and the back of the neck 

 browner. 



Young birds have the head and neck merely tinged with pink and the 

 whole plumage of a dull brown. The secondaries at all ages are salmon- 

 colour. 



Bill reddish white, rosy at the base and faintly bluish at the tip ; irides 

 fine orange-red ; legs and feet blackish with a tinge of red. (Jerdon.) 



Length 23 inches, tail 4'5, wing 11, tarsus 2, bill at front 2'3. The 

 female appears, judging from the specimens I have examined, to be of the 

 same size as the male. 



The Pink-headed Duck is a rare species, which, according to Mr. Blyth, 

 occurs in Arrakan. I have never met with it in Pegu ; nor does it appear 

 to be found in Tenasserim. 



It inhabits portions of the Indian peninsula, Assam and the eastern 

 portions of Bengal ; and Mr. Blyth gives Bhamo in Independent Burmah 

 as a locality where this species has been procured. 



This beautiful Duck appears to be resident in India ; but it is nowhere 

 common, and it is almost always found in weedy tanks and swamps. The 

 nest is placed on the ground in coarse grass ; and the eggs are five to ten 

 in number. The breeding-season is June and July. 



