Indian Birds 
The Faganas, 181 and 182 
These remarkable birds have very long toes, 
which enable them to run about on the large 
floating leaves of water plants. 
181. Metopidius indicus: The Bronze-winged 
Jacana. (F. 1428), (J. 900), (-IV.) 
Head, neck, and breast a beautiful glossy 
black. A conspicuous white eyebrow. There 
is some black in the wings, but the general 
hue of these is a metallic greenish bronze. 
The lower back and tail are chestnut red. 
Rare in Western India; common in the east. 
“They present,” writes Cunningham, “ an 
odd appearance on the wing, owing to the dis- 
proportionate size of their feet, which becomes 
particularly conspicuous when the legs are 
dropped just before the bird pitches on the 
surface of the weeds and expands its toes, 
which have been gathered up into a bundle 
during flight.” 
182. Hydrophasianus chirurgus: The Pheas- 
ant-tailed Jacana. (F. 1429), (J. 901), (IV, but 
with a tail a foot in length in the breeding 
season.) 
Winter plumage: Upper parts brown, with 
200 
