IN CAPTIVITY IN LOWER BENGAL. 309 



when coming down a sloping bank, and about to reach its proper element 

 it is often observed to push itself forward on the breast. A swan is seen 

 at its best when, with wings and tail raised and feathers erect, it 

 majestically pursues a female. This, however, should not be confounded 

 with the ruffling of feathers caused by anger or fright. It has several 

 other movements, each expressive of a particular state of mind. Like 

 pelicans, the swan also plunges its neck deep into the water where it is 

 shallow with a view to extract something eatable from the mud at the 

 bottom. Another characteristic peculiarity of the swan is that it may 

 be seen swimming leisurely with one leg drawn backward and upward, 

 so as to be distinctly visible above water. At the approach of the 

 migratory season, which commences at the termination of the cold 

 weather, the ducks and geese evince great restlessness, and if loose and 

 capable of flight disappear. Ducks which in their wild state do not roost 

 on trees have been known to acquire the habit of a tree-duck in capti- 

 vity. Widgeons, white-eyed and mandarin ducks living in a large aviary 

 with other species of birds regularly roost on perches provided for 

 other birds. The seasonal change of plumage is noticeable in some 

 ducks, but it is most conspicuous in the mandarin ; it begins throwing 

 off its feathers about the latter end of May, and by the first week of 

 July the casting off of the old feathers is complete. It remains in this 

 condition for about a fortnight, and after that period gradually begins 

 to assume a new plumage, completing the change about the middle of 

 September. In one or two cases the growth of new feathers has been 

 noticed to become arrested in its progress, the moult remaining incom- 

 plete until after the next season. For detailed information with regard 

 to the habits of ducks and geese which visit India and the adjoining 

 countries, Hume and Marshall's " Game Birds of India, &c," may be 

 consulted. 



(314) THE PAINTED SAND GROUSE. 

 (PETEOCLES FASCIATUS— (Scop.) ) 

 Hindi— Hunderi, Boat-bur, Bhut-litur. 

 Hob, — Greater part of India, exceptJLower Bengal. 



(315) PALLAS'S SAND GROUSE. 

 (SYKEHAPTES PARADOXUS— (Pall.) ) 



The characteristic feature of this genus consists in its remarkably 

 small feet, which are joined together at the base and feathered to the 

 claws. 



Sab. — Deserts of Central Asia, North- West China. 



Length of life in captivity. 



Of a dozen specimens obtained in the latter end of 1888, only one 

 is now alive. 



