94 THE NUKHTA OR COMB DUCK. 
or Ruddy Shieldrakes (almost the only Ducks with which 
they ever do closely associate) who, ever on the alert, effec- 
tually prevent any surprise of their comrades. 
They tame very readily, and will live well in captivity, 
becoming very gentle, docile birds, and I do not understand 
why they have not been domesticated, since, although not by 
any means first-rate eating, they are quite as good, when well 
fed in the poultry yards, as the Muscovy Duck (Cairina mus- 
chata) of Central America, and would probably like this* 
produce very fine hybrids with the common domestic Duck. 
Jerdon correctly says that this bird is generally little esteemed 
for the table, and I must say I think justly so. If roasted, 
when in good condition, with nice sage and onion stuffing, and 
served with a good gravy made from other things and Indian 
apple sauce (ze, the fruit of the Papaw with lime juice), they 
are of course nice enough, though rather hard, and if you are 
very hungry you will not grumble, let them be cooked as they 
may; but, judging them impartially on their own merits, the 
old birds are never worth cooking when any of the better 
migratory Ducks are available, and even the young, in November 
and December, though often as fat and tender as possible, have 
almost invariably a certain faint, marshy flavour, which it needs 
a good sauce to correct and conceal. 
My personal knowledge of this species has been mainly 
acquired in the North-Western Provinces ; elsewhere their habits 
and haunts may be different, and I gladly quote Colonel Tickell’s 
account of the species, partly because his experience seems to 
contradict mine on many points, and partly for the sake of 
an anecdote he tells of what befell him once when after 
Comb Duck. 
He says: “I have met with these birds chiefly about West 
Burdwan, Bankoora, Singhbhoom, and Chota Nagpur, in 
open, uncultivated, bushy country, on a gravelly soil scat- 
tered over with small clear ponds or tanks, where they may 
be found in parties of four or five, resting during the heat of 
the day on the clean pebbly or sandy margins, and flying off, 
if disturbed, to the next piece of water. The scenery of Chota 
Nagpur is remarkable for the number of huge, dome-like 
granite rocks which start in isolated masses from its plains, 
and in places project from the soil in the shape of huge slabs, 
covering perhaps two or three acres of ground. These are 
often hollowed into pools of pellucid water, forming natural 
baths, so clean and refreshing as to tempt the most fastidious 
to a dip. These rocky ponds are much frequented by the 
“nukwas,” especially at Bhandra, where I met with greater 
* In the Straits, people habitually raise for the table hybrids between the 
Muscovy and Common Duck, which combine the size of the former with the delicacy 
of flavour of the latter. These hybrids are infertile. They lay quantities of eggs, 
(which are pale sea green, unlike those of either parent) but these never hatch. 
