432 



1590. Dendrocycna fulva. Tlie Large Whistling Teal. 



Anas fulva. Gmel Syst. Nat. i, p. 530 (1788). 



Dendrocygna major, Jerdon, Madr. Jour. L. S. xii, p. 218 (1840) ; id, 

 III Ind. Orn, pi. 23 ; Bh/th, Cat. p. 301 ; Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 790 ; 

 Sclater, P. Z. S. 1864, p. 300; 1866, p. 148: Blyth, Ibis, 1865, 

 p. 39; 1867, p. 175; Hume, N. $ E. p. 640; James, S. F. i, 

 p. 421 ; Hume 8>- Oates, S. F. iii, p. 193 ; Fab-bank, S. F. iv, 

 p. 264 ; Sutler, S. F. v, p. 328. 



Dendrocygna fulva, Blyth, Ibis, 1870, p. 176 ; Sclat. fy Salv. 

 P. Z. S. 1876, p. 372 ; Hume 8f Dav. S. F. vi, p. 488 ; Dav. $ 

 Wend. S. F. vii, p. 92 ; Hume, ibi$. p. 492 : id. Cat. no. 953 ; Hume 

 8? Marsh. Game B. iii, p. 119, pi. ; Butler, S. F. ix, p. 437; 

 Parker, ibid. p. 487 ; Reid, S. F. x, p. 80 ; Eden, ibid. p. 164: Taylor,, 

 ibid. pp. 528, 531 ; Oates, B. B. ii, p. 274 ; Barne*, Birds Bom. 

 p. 399 ; id. Jour. Bom. N. H. Sloe, vi, p. 289 ; Hume, S. F. xi, 

 p. 342 ; Oates in Hume's N. & E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 286. 



Dendrocycna fulva, Sclater, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 509 ; Salvation, Cat. 

 B. M. xxvii, p. 149. 



Coloration. Forehead and crown brownish ferruginous, passing 

 on the nape into a black stripe that extends down the hind neck, 

 and on the sides into the dull light brown with pale shaft-stripes 

 of the rest of the head and upper neck ; short feathers in front 

 and at sides of middle neck white with dark brown edges and bases ; 

 back, scapulars, rump, and tail black, the feathers of the upper 

 back and scapulars with broad pale transverse rufous ends ; median 

 and some of the smaller wing-coverts dark chestnut, remainder of 

 the wings above and below black ; lower neck and uuderparts 

 rufous ochraceous, passing into cinnamon, especially on the flanks, 

 where the longer feathers are whitish with dark brown lateral 

 edges ; vent and upper and lower tail-coverts whitish. 



Bill plumbeous ; irides brown ; orbits pale livid ; legs and feet 

 dark plumbeous (Jerdon). 



Length 20 ; tail 2 ; wing 9 ; tarsus 2'25 ; bill from gape 2*4. 

 The females are rather smaller. 



Distribution. The larger "Whistling Teal is not a common bird 

 anywhere, but may be found at times throughout India south of 

 the Himalayas. It has been observed in Ceylon by Parker, and 

 by Oates and Wardlaw Earn say in Pegu and Toungoo. It is, 

 however, very rare in the Madras Presidency and the Deccan, and 

 is perhaps commonest in Lower Bengal. To the westward it is 

 found in Sind. This species has not been recorded elsewhere in 

 Asia, but it has a remarkable range, being found in Africa south 

 of the Sahara, Madagascar, and Central and South America. 



Habits, 6fc. Similar to those of D. javanica, except that the flight 

 is stronger and more rapid ; the present species occurs in small 

 flocks and often perches on trees. Very little is known of the 

 nidification, which is believed to be the same as that of the smaller 

 species. Eggs measure about 2*18 by 1*7. As an article of food 

 this "Whistling Teal is said to be better than its smaller relative. 



