20y INDIAN DUCKS. 



Genus NEXT A. 



The genus Scfta contains Imt one sjtecie.-. (li.-tinnui.-liod hy it> liill, 

 which tapers very gradually throughout its length and ha- the lamella; 

 veiy stout and pronn'm-nt. 



The male bird also has a full bushy cre.-t, which, however, does not 

 exist, or is considerably moditied, in the female. 



The name Pocliard -liuuld l)c pronounceil '•'rukard,'^ not witli tlic scjl't 

 rh with which I liaxc heard many sportsmen sound it. In many jjarts of 

 England these ducks are known a- Pokers or Poke Duck-, and it is from 

 this the name is derived. 



(35) NETTA RUFINA. 

 THE KED-CRESTED POCHAED. 



Branta rufiua, Jerdon, B. J. iii, p. 811 : Butler, >ilr. Fcatlt. iv, p. oO ; ibid. 

 V, p. 234 ; Fairhanh, ibid, iv, p. 264. 



Fuligula nifina, Hume, Sir. Feath. i, p. 264; Adam, ibid. p. 402; Hume, 

 ibid, vii, pp. 98 <fc 4!J3 ; Huuie tj- Mar. Game-B. iii, p. 253 ; Leyge, B. of 

 Ceij. p. 1087 ; Bathr, h>tr. Feath. ix, p. 438 ; lieid, ibid, x, p. 84 ; Taylor, 

 ibid. pp. 528 & 531 ; Barnes, B. of Bom. p. 412 ; Hume, Sir. Feath. ,\i, 

 p. 346 ; Ball, ibid. p. 232 ; Cripj^s, ibid. p. 402 ; Hume, Cut. no. 967. 



Netta rufina, hialvadori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 328 ; Blanford, Fauna B. I. iv, 

 p. 456 ; Oates, Game-B. ii, p. 299. 



Descrijition. Adult male. — Whole head reddish-bay, richest and darkest on 

 the under surface and sides, paling from the forehead to the end of the crest, 

 \\ here it is reddish-buff. Xeck blackish-brow n ; upper back dark brown, getting 

 more and more pale towards the rump, the bases of the featliers next the 

 scapulars stiouing in a white band ; rump and upper tail-coverts bhickish-brown, 

 more or less glossed green ; tail silvery-grey-browu : breast blackish-brown, 

 paling on the low er breast and abdomen ; under tail-coverts dark brown ; flanks, 

 axillai'ies, and under wing-coverts w hite ; coverts bordering the wing and running 

 into the scapulars white ; other coverts greyish-brow]i ; secondaiies white, some- 

 times tinged grey or creamy, with a subterminal band of brown from 2-5 to 

 4 inches wide ; inner secondaries like the coverts; outermost primary brown on 

 the outer web and inside of the inner web and tip, the remainder white, this 



