218 



Catalogue of ilie Birds 



[Oct. 



This Gonse is not so common in Southern India, as it appears to be in 

 Bengal, and the more northern Provinces. I have seen it in pairs in 

 August, within a few miles of Cape Comorin, and once or twice in flocks 

 of 15 or 20 in large tanks, on the central table land. 



Genus DENDROCYGNA, Sw.— Tree Ducks. 



376. — D. Awsiiree.—Mareca Awsiiree, Sykes' Cat.— ^was arcuata, 

 Horsf J&va.SiUee, H.— Whistling Teal of Europeans. 



As my specimens agree exactly with the description of Sykes, of his 

 Awsuree, and also the description in Mr. Elliot's Catalogue, I think 

 it may be considered distinct from the Javanese bird. It is found in 

 numerous flocks, in various parts of the country, most abundant, perhaps, 

 in the wooded districts, frequenting tanks, and often seen perched on 

 the boughs of trees that overhang the water. I have not seen its breed- 

 ing places. 



Length about 18 inches ; bill to front 1| ; tarsus 1 -^-^ ; centre toe and 

 claw 2| ; wing 8 ; tail 2^ ; bill and legs plumbeous ; irides brown ; eye- 

 lids, bright yellow. It is not esteem.ed good eating. 



377. — D. 7najo?\~'New species ?— Large Whistling Teal. 



X am strongly inclined to consider this as a distinct species from the 

 last. It differs in its larger size, in the whole head, neck and under 

 parts, being rufous or chestnut, and not so dark in the belly as the former 

 bird. The upper tail coverts are yellowish white, instead of deep chest- 

 nut. There is a blackish line down the back of the neck from the nape. 

 The tip of the head is deep chestnut instead of brown, and there is a 

 broad patch round the centre of the neck, in which the feathers are 

 somewhat hackled or lanceolate, whitish at the tip, and blackish at the 

 base. The feathers of the loins are highly elongated, chestnut on one 

 side of the shaft, and creamy white on the other side, broadly edged 

 with dusky. 



Length 20-21 inches; wing 9| ; tail 2 i inches ; tarsus 2 ; bill at front 

 1 ths ; centre toe and claw 3|. 



378. --D. f girra.—Anas girra, Gray and Hardw,, 111. Ind. Zool.— J. 

 Coramandelica. — Geerjah^ H.^Cotton Teal of Europeans in India. 



This pretty little bird is not very common in Southern India, and 

 like the last, abounds most in the more wooded districts, and it is said 

 to breed in some of the forests of the western coast. It has a peculiar 



