BIRDS COLLECTED IN BENGAL. 451 



species in four years. I do not think they are very com- 

 mon, but may be overlooked on account of their shy skulking 

 habits. One of the birds I shot was only wounded, and made 

 repeated savage thrusts at the man whom I sent to pick it up. 



Anser indicus, Lath. (Barred-headed G-oose). — Not a very 

 plentiful bird anywhere in the district. It arrives in October, 

 and stays sometimes till June. 



Sarcidiornis melanonotus, Penn. (Comb Duck). — A small flock 

 was seen by my brother at Dalsingh Serai in May, 1899, and one 

 (a male) was shot. I happenea to be away at the time, and the 

 bird, which had been badly skinned by a native, was sent to me 

 for identification, but arrived in a state of putrefaction. 



Rhodonessa caryophyllacea, Lath. (Pink-headed Duck). — Mr. 

 Oates, in his book on the ' Game Birds of India,' mentions Tirhoot 

 as one place where this Duck is to be found. I never came across 

 it myself, but Mr. Inglis writes me : " The man who brought 

 me Duck and Teal described a bird, evidently this species, that 

 was snared." 



Casarca rutila, Pall. (Ruddy Sheldrake). — A common cold 

 weather migrant, often staying on well into summer. They are, 

 I have always found, extremely wary birds. Their flesh is not 

 fit for the table, being very fishy in flavour. 



Dendrocycna javanica, Horsf. (Whistling Teal). — A very com- 

 mon resident, often seen in flocks of many hundreds. They nest 

 in trees during July and August. 



Nettopus coromandelianus, Gmel. (Cotton Teal). — Very com- 

 mon on nearly all marshes. It breeds in July in the holes of trees. 



Anas boscas, Linn. (Mallard). — Rare. A pair were shot out of 

 two pairs on Hattowrie Lake, Darbhanga, in December, 1897, 

 and I saw a solitary female at Dalsingh Serai in January, 1900, 

 flying in company with some Gadwall. 



A. pcecilorhyncha, Forst. (Spotted-billed Duck). — Mr. Inglis 

 procured a specimen in June, 1900, and I saw a pair at Dalsingh 

 Serai in June, 1901. 



Eunetta falcata, Georgi (Bronze-capped Teal). — Mr. Inglis 

 was fortunate enough to secure seven of this rare species in the 

 Mudubuni district, Darbhanga, in January, 1900 — two males 

 and five females. He very kindly gave me the skin of one of 

 the females. 



