258 ASAECOENIS.— EHODONESSA. 



295. Sarcidiomis melanonotus. The Comb Duck or Black-backhd 



Spur- Goose. 



Nukhta, India; Nukwa, Ghota Nagpur ; Jutu chillawa (Telugu) ; Neerkoli, Coim.- 

 iatore; Tanbay, Pegu; Bowkban (Karen). 



<J 30" to 34" j 6 lbs. ? 26". Legs greenish. Bill and comb black. Head 

 and neck white, spotted glossy black. Above black, glossed purple. Lower 

 neck, all round breast, abdomen, lower tail-coverts, and tail white. Rump ash- 

 grey. Sides and flanks white, tinged grey. — Female: No boss on bill. India, 

 Ceylon, Burma, Africa (south of the Sahara), and Madagascar. Seven to twelve 

 eggs (241 X 1-72), ivory-white. (J. 950. B. 1584.) 



Also S. carunculatus. 24". Similar to S. melanonotus, but aides and flanks brown-l)laok, 

 and rump black, glossed green. S. America. 



Genus ASABCORNIS. 



Resembles Sarcidiomis in structure arid plumage, but there is no knob on the 

 bill of the male bird. Placed by Blanford under Anatince. 



296. Asarcomis scutulata. The White-winged Wood-Duck. 



Seutaiata =iia,Tnoni or lozenge-shaped, chequered. 



Deo-hans, Assam. 



(J 28" to 32". Legs orange. Base orange, base and tip black. Head and 

 neck white, speckled black. Lower parts brown, tinged with dusky red. Assam, 

 Tenasserim, Malay Peninsula, and Java. (J. 955. B. 1585. H. & M. iii. 147.) 



Genus RHODONESSA. 



Similar to Sarciodornis, but bill, is lower at the base. Distinguished by 

 plumage more than by structure. Egg nearly spherical. 



297. Rhodonessa caryophyllacea. The Pink-headed Duck. 



Saknal, Bengal; Lai sira, India; Doomrar, Nepal; Doomar, Tirhoot. 

 $ 24". Legs black. Bill rosy, tip bluish. — In summer : Rosy tuft. Plumage 

 chocolate. Wing-lining pink. — Female: More dull. Vertex with brown spot. 

 India, Assam, and N. Burma. Nine eggs (1-78 x 1-66). (J. 960. B. 1586.) 



^Also the genus Pteronetta, With plumage plain, with no mottlings and no metallic speculum 

 as in Asarcomis, but the frontal feathers in a straight line. One species from Equatorial Africa, 

 viz. P. hartlaubi, 22", legs brown, bill black with yellow band, head and upper neck black, a, 

 white square patch on frontal edge. Plumage chestnut, tail brown. 



Also vrith lores naked : — 



The genus Plectropterus. With forehead and base of bill furnished with caruncles. Four 

 species, viz. — 



P. gamiensis. 38". Legs flesh colour. Bill coral -red. Above metallic black, glossed 

 green. Breast and sides black. Sides of head, throat, upper wing-coverts, abdomen, thighs, 

 and under tail-coverts white. Frontal knob and bare rhomboidal spaces on sides of neck. 

 Equatorial Africa. 



P. ruppelli. 40". Similar to P. gambensis, but with very high frontal knob. N.E. Africa. 



P. niger. 38". Legs dull red. Bill crimson. Similar to P. gambensis, but with small 

 frontal knob,tmany caruncles on naked skin of forehead, and no bare spaces on sides of neck. 

 Throat and under tail-coverts black. S.E. Africa. 



P. scioanus. Similar to P. niger, but with scarcely any frontal knob, and no caruncles on 

 forehead. Shoa. 



Also the genus Cairina, With wings without spurs. One species — C. moschafa, 29", the 

 Muscovy Duck, legs black, biU black and pink, head, crest, neck, and below brown-black, 



