222 Catalogue of the Birds [Oct. 



Irides deep yellow. 



390.— .F. cristata, Steph.— A.fuligula, L.— Tufted Duck. 



Tolerably common throughout the Peninsula, daring the cold weather. 

 It is one of the latest to quit the country, and I have on one occasion 

 found a single one in the month of June, in a tank near Hvdrabad. 



Irides bright yellow ; bill plumbeous; legs blackish. Length 19-20 

 inches. 



391. — F. nyroca. — A. leucophthalmos. — Bechstein. 



Rare in the Peninsula, generally in pairs, or very small parties in tanks. 



Irides greyish white. These 3 last species dive remarkably well. 



Family COLYENBLDJE.— Grebes. 

 Genus PODICEPS, Lath. 



392.— P. Philippensis, Steph.— Choorakah, II. ? — Indian bay-necked 

 Grebe. 



Common in the tanks all over India, even in those which dry up early 

 in the season. Feed on various water insects, &c. 



Irides ochrey yellow. Length 9£ inches. 



392, bis.— P. ?— Lesser Grebe— Pun-doobee, H. ? 



I have hitherto not procured this little species of Dicer, which is men- 

 tioned in Mr. Elliot's Catalogue, though without any description, but I 

 have seen it on several occasions, in grassy tanks, and among weeds. It 

 appears much smaller than the common one. 



Family PELECANID.E. 

 Genus PLOTUS, L.-Darter. 



393.— P. melanogaster, Gmel.—Banwali, H.— Darter or Snake bird. 



Not very uncommon in the Northern Circars, and in other districts 

 where tanks abound. Feeds on fish chiefly, swims and dives with great 

 rapidity, and as Colonel Sykes remarks, has the faculty of being enabled 

 to swim with the whole of its body under water, the long head and neck 

 being alone visible, looking like a snake. 



Length about 3 feet ; tail 9^ ; bill front 3 T 3 ,_ r ths. 



