FTJRREEDPORE, EASTERN BENGAL. 311 



951.— Nettapus coromandelianus, Gmel 



Males.— Length, 13*25 ; expanse, 2075 and 21*25 ; wing, 6*42 

 and 6*66 ; tail from vent, 3*10 and 325 ; tarsus, 1*0 and 1*04 ; 

 bill from gape, 1*08 and 1*20 ; at front, 0*92 and 0*94 ; closed 

 wings fall short of eud of tail, 1*0 and 1*25; weight, 975 and 

 10 - 87 ozs. Irides crimson. 



Very common during the rains ; and I have on several 

 occasions noticed them during the cold season. Frequents 

 swampy ground. Builds in holes in trees at no great height 

 from the ground. I once found a nest in a hole in a date 

 tree at 7 feet from the ground and close along side of a rvot's 

 house. There were twigs and feathers from their own breasts 

 made into a nest ; one fresh egg. Some native boys killed the 

 female, and I never again found any more breeding in that 

 hole ; they even lay their eggs in the Factory chimney holes. 

 When blowing the above mentioned egg I noticed the drops 

 appear phosphorescent as they fell on a "pucca" floor; the floor 

 was perfectly clean, so cannot make out the reason for this 

 appearance. The egg had no bad smell, and appeared to be 

 fresh. 



952.— Dendrocygna javanica, Horsf. 



Males.— Expanse, 29*50 to 30*0; wing, 7*50 to 8*04; tail, 

 2*50 to 2*75; tarsus, 1*90 to 1*92; bill from gape, 1*80 to 

 2*06; at front, 1*58 to 1*75. Irides dark brown; legs dark 

 plumbeous ; eyelids yellow ; bill, base plumbeous, shading into 

 a black tip. 



Common during the rainy season, when they go about in 

 pairs ; builds its nest on trees as well as on the ground in 

 " Sun" grass fields. During the cold weather I on two or three 

 occasions saw small flocks of Dendrocygna, but whether of 

 this or the larger species, {D.fxdva) I cannot say. 



954.— *Casarca rutila, Pall 



A cold weather visitant found on the churs of the large rivers, 

 but nowhere common. During a day's sail a few pairs may be 

 seen ; the open places that they frequent makes it a difficult 

 task to secure a specimen. In the house where I live at Howrah 

 a pair (bought from a fowler in December 1877) have been let 

 loose in the tank with their wings clipped ; the scapulars of the 

 male during the rainy season have become considerably length- 

 ened, and when he closes his wings none of the white wino-. 

 co verts are visible ; thus making him appear of an orano-e fulvous 

 colour throughout, no traces of the black collar in either durino- 



