438 ZOOLOGY. 



279. Querquedula crecca, L. 



Occasionally met with on the highlands. I did not 

 see Q. circia. 



280. Chendlopex aegyptiaca, L. 



Biipp. Syst, Uebers. No. 487^ 



Iris orange yellow ; bUl flesh colour above and bdlow ; 

 tips and edges of both mandibles and base of the upper 

 one dusky, but the dark colour is unequally distributed 

 in different specimens, and is sometimes wanting ; legs 

 pink, with pale mottling. 



A common bird throughout the highlands. It is ia 

 general excellent eating, and was consequently much 

 sought after by the sportsmen of the army ; and a large 

 plain, about four mUes south of Senafd, on which the 

 3d Bombay Cavalry were for some time encamped, was 

 known as " Goose Plain," from the numbers of these 

 birds found upon it. It keeps chiefly to open grassy 

 plains near streams, during the winter and spring 

 months at least, and, like most Shieldrakes, appears to 

 keep much in pairs at all seasons of the year, these pairs 

 occasionally collecting into considerable societies, which 

 however have by no means the same united volition 

 which may be seen in birds habitually found in flocks, 

 like most Ducks and Geese. On the shores of Lake 

 Ashangi the Egjrptian Goose abounded, and hundreds 

 might be seen scattered over the grassy plains around 

 the lake ; but they came to the feeding-grounds singly 

 or in pairs, rarely in larger numbers, and flew away in 

 the same manner. 



