98 A LAKE IN OODEYPORE. 



scattered about the further and shallower portions of the lake. 

 Great numbers of the Bar-headed Goose, in parties of from 50 

 to 300, were to be seen in all directions, and often intermingled 

 with these small families of the Black-backed Goose (Sarkidi- 

 ornis melanonotus) . No other Geese were met with ; no Cotton 

 or Whistling Teal, (Nettapus coromandelianus, Dendrocygna 

 javanica) no Brahminy's (Casarca ridila) or Shell Drakes, 

 but Shovellers (chiefly along the shores,) Mallards, Grey- 

 Duck (A. poecilorhynclia), Gadwall, Pintail, Widgeon, the 

 White-eyed Duck (Ayihya nyroca), and Common Teal in a 

 profusion that would baffle description, and if described would 

 exceed belief. 



The Red-crested Pochard (Fuligula rufind) was to be met 

 with continually, diving and swimming about in densely 

 agglomerated bands, and most plentiful of all the Ducks, the 

 Tufted Duck or Indian Golden-eye (Fulix cristata) rivalled 

 in numbers even the swarming tribes of Coots. 



Dab-chicks popped up and down around one whichever 

 way we steered, and here and there the long white snake- 

 like necks of the Crested Grebe caught the eye against a 

 dense black background of Coots and Cormorants. 



These latter, both the common kind (P. carbo) and the little 

 one (P. pygmoeus) abounded, many occupied in fishing lustily, 

 but the majority, perhaps, sunning themselves with out- 

 spread wings, in company with the Silver-laced Snake-bird 

 {Plotus melanog aster) on every rock, island or stake that the 

 lake afforded. 



As for Pelicans, I have only once or twice in my life seen 

 such a display. There were only two species— one the silvery 

 crispus, the other the huge, pinky birds that we in India have 

 hitherto (as I now think erroneously) called onocrotalus, but of 

 these there were simply miles. As far as I could judge, however — 

 for they all kept mixed up in the same flocks — crispus was 

 greatly in a minority. 



The only Gulls were L. ridibundus and brunneicephalus, both 

 plentiful to a degree, flying about everywhere or floating 

 lazily along conspicuous in their delicate tints amongst the 

 inky droves of Coots. 



As for Terns, I cannot wholly account for it, but there were 

 absolutely none. S. melanog astr a and seena were doubtless 

 away already to their breeding haunts, the sandy islands of 

 some river, and the place was not suited to the Whiskered Tern 

 (U. hybrida), but S. caspius might have been confidently 

 expected to occur on such a vast sheet of water, and the Gull- 

 billed Tern could hardly have left so early. Be the cause as 

 it may, however, not one single true Tern did I sea during the 



