ANATIN.E. 407 



feathers of the middle back narrowly and obscurely tipped with 

 yellowish-white, those of the rump and upper tail-coverts more 

 broadly and conspicuously so, and with a subterminal dark brown 

 spot ; the longest of the upper tail-coverts are very broadly an'd 

 conspicuously so tipped, and have a subterminal dark band ; the 

 tail-leathers pale grey-brown broadly tipped and narrowly mar- 

 gined with yellowish- white, the two central tail-feathers darker 

 on the inner webs and dark shafted, and the lateral tail feathers 

 paling as they recede from the centre. 



" The female is similar, but smaller, with the eye-patch and 

 generally all the markings and tints duller and less conspicuous." 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. I, p. 562. 



The Marbled Teal is a common cold weather visitant to Sind, 

 and occurs sparingly in Northern Guzerat, whence I have myself 

 obtained it. 



It is a most indifferent bird for the table and is not much 

 sought after, when other species are obtainable. 



GENUS, Dafila, Leach. 



Tail long, of 1 6 feathers, with the central feathers much length- 

 ened and narrow ; neck very long ; bill slightly narrower than in 

 the preceding forms, and elevated at the base, equal to the head 

 of uniform width; lamellae not projecting; wings long, the first 

 primary longest. 



Dafila acuta, Lin. 



962. Jerdon's Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 803 ; Butler, Guzerat ; 

 Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 27 ; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. - 

 IX, p. 438 ; Murray's Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 297 ; 

 Game Birds of India, Vol. Ill, p. 189 ; Swinhoe and Barnes, 

 Central India ; Ibis, 1885, p. 137. 



THE PINTAIL DUCK. (Uo-e^ 



$. Length, 22 to 29; expanse, 32 to 3775 ; wing, 10'3 to 

 1175 ; tail, 4*8 to 9'4 ; tarsus, T5 to T8 ; bill from gape, 2'0 lo i<n 

 to 2-45 ; weight, 1-f 6 to 2|*. 



? . Length, 20 to 22'5 ; expanse, 32 to 34*5 ; wing, 9'3 to 

 ']0'2 ; tail, 4'2 to 5'5 ; tarsus, 1'45 to 17 ; bill from gape, 21 to 

 2-35 ; weight, If 6 to 1|* Ibs. 



Bill black, sides of upper mandible bluish ; irides dark-brown ; 

 legs greyish plumbeous. 



Male, forehead and crown umber-brown, the feathers with 

 paler edges ; the rest of the head, chin, and throat, dark hair- 

 brown, slightly glossed behind the ears with purplish-green ; / 

 forepart of the neck and two lateral streaks, passing upwards to - 

 the occiput, white ; neck above deep blackish-brown ; the whole 

 of the back beautifully marked with transverse undulating lines 

 of black and greyish-white ; scapulars black ; upper tail-coverts 

 and tail dark cinereous-brown, the edges of the feathers paler, 

 and the two central elongated tail feathers black ; wing-coverts 



