648 Catalogue of Birds in the Dukhun. [Dec. 



Length, inclusive of tail, 16§ to 17§ inches ; tail 3 to 3.4 inches. Female the smaller 

 bird, and quite dissimilar in plumage. Identical with British specimens. Gre- 

 garious. In addition to similar contents of the gizzards in other species, rice 

 in the husk was found. 



222. Querquedula Crecca, Steph., 12. 146. Anas Crecca, Linn., 1. 204. Petite Sarcelle, 



Buff., Ois. 9. 265. PI. Enl. 947. Common Teal, 

 Identical with male and female British specimens. Length, inclusive of tail, 15§ 

 to 16 inches ; tail 3 inches. Water-weed and gravel in the stomach. Colonel 

 Sykes has in his possession specimens (male and female) resembling the female 

 of Querq. Crecca ; but in which the proportional length of the intestinal canal 

 differs so much from that of Querq. Crecca (3 - 30 to 1, and 5 - 57 to l), that he 

 is induced to believe they may belong to a distinct species. It will be observed 

 that the proportional length of the intestine (5\57 to l) closely approximates to 

 that of a widely-different bird, the carrion-devouring Percnopterus. 



Genus Fuligula, Steph. Pochard. 



223. Fuligula rufina, Steph-, 12. 188. Anas rufina, Pall. Le Canard Siffleur huppe, 

 Buff., Ois. 9. 282. PI. Enl. 928. Red-headed Pochard. 



Length, inclusive of tail, 25 inches ; tail 3% inches. Digastric muscle remarka- 

 bly thick. Rare in Dukhun. Vegetable matters and gravel in the stomach. 



224. Fuligula . Ash-brown Pochard with white speculum. 



This bird has a considerable resemblance to the female of Ful. rufina, as described 

 by Mr. Stephens, but it has a black bill ; and Colonel Sykes is not able to 

 meet with a specimen to institute a rigid comparison ; he therefore leaves the bird 

 for future consideration. Length, inclusive of tail, 24 inches ; tail 3f inches. 

 A coloured figure in Hunt's British Ornithology (Norwich) represents the 

 female of Ful. rufina with a red bill, red legs, and reddish-brown plumage, which 

 militate against its identity with the present bird. 



225. Fuligula cristata, Steph., 12. 190. Anas Fuligula, Linn., 1. 207. Morillon, 

 Buff., Ois. 9. 227. PL Enl. 1001. Tufted Duck. 



Differs only in the more pronounced amethyst reflection of the back neck in the 

 male from British specimens. Female identical. Irides bright yellow. Length, 

 inclusive of tail, 18 to 19 inches ; tail 2.5 to 2.7 inches. Female the smaller 

 bird. 



Fam. Colymbidee, Leach. — Genus Podiceps, Lath. 



226. Podiceps Philippensis, Steph., 13. 16. Indian Grebe, Lath., 10. 29. described 

 from drawings of Sir John Anstruther. Le Castagneux des Philippines, 

 Buff., Ois. 8. 246. PI. Enl. 945. Buffon's plate is excellent. 



Irides broad, of an ochry yellow ; they dilate and contract. Length, from the bill 

 to the rump, 9§ to 9f inches ; tail none. Common in Dukhun, where their 

 unceasing habit of diving occasions their being called Divers by Europeans, 

 although quite distinct from the genus Colymbus. From their remarkable quick- 

 ness of eye, Colonel Sykes has known a dozen unsuccessful shots fired at the 

 same individual, which constantly disappeared under water ere the shot reached 

 him. Gregarious. Stomach simple, resembling that of Herons, and wholly 

 unlike that of Ducks. Found in the stomach larvae of water insects and shrimps, 

 aliments common to the Heron tribe, and not found by Colonel Sykes in the 

 gizzard of Ducks. 



Fam. Pelecanidee, Leach. Genus Phalacrocorax, Briss. Cormorant. 



227. Phalacrocorax Javanicus, Steph., 13. 90. Carbo Javanica, Horsf. Linn. Trans. 

 13. 197- Figured in Illust. Ind. Zool., part 10. fig. 9. Shag of Europeans in 

 Dukhun. 



Absolutely identical with Dr. Horsfield's specimens from Java. Differs from 

 Pelecanus Africanus (Phal. Africanus) , with which it has been confounded, in 

 the scapulars and wing coverts being reddish-fuscous-brown instead of blue- 

 gray, and being margined and tipped with lighter brown instead of black ; in 

 the first three quill-feathers being black instead of pale brown ; in the seconda- 

 ries not being so long as the quills ; tail graduated instead of cuneiform ; in 

 the front of the neck being reddish and fuscous instead of black and white ; 

 finally, in the belly being rusty black instead of white varied with dusky. There 

 can be no question, therefore, of the propriety of its being considered a distinct 

 species by Dr. Horsfield. Colonel Sykes has seen hundreds of them, and 

 notes these differences with several specimens lying before him. Irides remark- 

 ably narrow, crimson. Length, inclusive of tail, 22 to 23 inches f tail 6 inches. 

 Sexes alike. The only spot of white on the bird is at the chin. Very numerous 

 in Dukhun, appearing in the rivers in flocks of hundreds. Fish (some 3 inches 

 long) and prawns found in the stomach of many birds ; also capillary worms. 

 Colonel Sykes remarks, that the generic character, " Face and throat naked" 

 is inapplicable to this species. 



