492 GLEANINGS FKOM THE CALCUTTA MARKET. 



952. — Dendrocygna javanica, Horsf. 



This Duck stands high in the list as regards commoness ; 

 but though as many as 40 or even 50 may be seen in the 

 market some mornings, I doubt whether more than 1,000 come 

 in during the whole year. 



953. — Dendrocygna fulva, Gm. 



Although this is not rare, I do not suppose that much above 

 100 come in during the whole year. 



954. — Casarca rutila, Pall. 



Rare — perhaps forty are brought in during the season ; some 

 years more, some less. 



956. — Tadorna cornuta, S. G. Gm. 



Very rare. I have only seen this species three or four times 

 in the market, and only in March and April. 



957. — Spatula clypeata, Lin. 



Pretty common ; in fact during the cold season, one or more 

 (sometimes a dozen) are generally to be seen each morning. 

 They are barely edible according to my ideas. 



958. — Anas boschas, Lin. 



Very rare. Blyth was not aware of its occurrence, but I 

 have twice procured ducks, no drake as yet. 



959. — Anas pcecilorhyncha, Gm. 



A pair or so come in occasionally. Sometimes a dozen may 

 be seen, but they are not common, and I dare say an estimate 

 of 200 for the season would be rather above than below the 

 facts. 



960.— Anas caryophyllacea, Lath. 



So far as my experience of many years goes, this is an ex- 

 tremely rare Duck in the Calcutta market. Mr. Wood-Mason 

 and others (none of whom, however, I believe, ever visit the 

 market themselves) have assured me that it is common there. 

 I can only say that during six seasons I have seen only five of 

 these Ducks, and all of them with their throats cut and other- 

 wise so mangled as to be useless. 



There is something odd about this Duck. It must be common 

 somewhere, but where, I have failed to discover. 



Blyth says " India generally ; not migratory ; Burma ; not 

 very common in lower Bengal." Jerdon says, " Most common 

 in parts of Bengal, but is found at times throughout Northern 

 India ; is rare in the North- West Provinces, and still more so 

 in Central and Southern India/' 



