58 ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL 
GENUS SARCIDIORNIS. 
This genus is represented by three very similar species 
from India, Africa, and America. 
BLACK-BACKED GOOSE OR COMB-DUCK, 
INDIAN WATTLED DUCK. 
(Sarcidiornis melanonota). 
This bird, although often spoken of as a Duck, is properly 
a Goose, and as Mr. Jamrach expresses himself “a very spiteful 
one into the bargain.” It is, however, sufficiently singular in 
appearance to attract the attention of fanciers of waterfowl, and 
is procurable at times in the market, the price being £6 a 
pair; they are hardy, but bad breeders in this country. These 
birds are natives of India and Ceylon, Dr. Jerdon stating 
that this species is most common in Central and Western India, 
where, though occasionally met with in flocks of a hundred, it 
is more usually seen in parties of about halfa dozen. From the 
same author we learn that this is not a particularly shy bird, 
nor rapid in flight, allowing itself to be closely approached ; 
it breeds in that country during the months of July and August, 
The Zoological Society of London possesses living birds, first 
acquired in 1876, and the stuffed specimens in the British 
Museum convey a very fair idea of the singular appearance of 
this bird during life. 
Male.—Stands high on the legs; the back (as its name im- 
plies), being black, shading into metallic hues of violet and green, 
especially on the wings; head and neck white, speckled on the 
face and neck with black; tail and wings black, glossed with 
green ; lower parts pure white ; bill black, bearing on the upper 
mandible a large boss or semi-disc, between two and three 
inches in height ; eye bright yellow; weight about six pounds. 
