430 LETTERS TO TH: EDITOR, 
You say in the “ Game Brros” that you do not know 
of the occurrence of the Comb Duck in the Punjab Trans-Sutlej. 
Although it certainly is nowhere common in this region, I 
know of its having been shot on more than one occasion in the 
Lahore district, in the Goordaspur district, and again further 
south in the Baree Doab, but only during the rainy season and 
always in the immediate neighbourhood of the canals. 
I heard of anest being taken as far south as the Changa 
Manga Plantation, but I am not sure of the fact. I have never 
heard of or seen the bird west of the Ravee, but throughout the 
canal irrigated’ portion of the Baree Doab, the whole tract 
between the Beas and Sutlej and the Ravee, it certainly does 
occur, though very sparingly, during the rainy season. 
G. Trevor. — 
Sir, 
[The occurrence of this species in the Lahore district has 
already been pointed out by an anonymous writer in the Asian, 
whose remarks I reproduce: “ I am surprised to find that in the 
third volume just published of the “ Game Birds of India,” all 
description, or even mention, of the spur on the wing of the 
Nukhta (Sarcidiornis melanonotus) -is omitted. -I see that 
Mr. Hume says about this duck, “ I do not know of its occur= 
rence in the Punjab Trans-Sutlej.”” I am happy to be able to 
state that it not only occurs, but that it breeds in the Punjab 
Trans-Sutlej. A friend of mine, an engineer on the Baree 
Doab Canal, sent mea female Sarcidiornis for identification 
from Blambé in the Lahore district. On opening the bird, I 
found a perfectly formed egg ready to be laid, and from other 
investigations it seemed clear that a nest was in the. vicinity. 
During the rains, the neighbourhood of Bhambé in one direc. 
tion is fairly under water, and canna brakes are very common, 
with patches of water between, and dotted here and there with 
large trees, just the place for the Nukhta.. It was at one such 
place that. my friend saw the pair often, and on the day he shot 
the female, had fired one or two shots unsuccessfully at. either 
her or the male, but was rather surprised at the way in which 
both returned wheeling round and round, without going away. 
for any distance. As soon as the female was shot, the male 
went further off and did not afford another shot ; but the whole 
circumstance goes far to prove that there must have been a nest 
close at hand. I have the egg at present in my collection. 
The date upon which the bird was shot was July 18th, 1874,.”J 
