296 
ORNITHOLOOY. 
935. Ardetta minuta (Linn.). 
The Little Bittern was excessively common in the lakes 
and marshes of Kashmir, where it was breeding in June. 
[.O.H.-] 
This species is found in many parts of the interior of the 
Himalayas, where much rice is grown. I have it from 
Nepal, and have shot it at Syree, below Simla, in the upper 
valley of the Bias, in Kulu, and in many similar localities ; but 
always in the neighbourhood of extensive rice cultivation. 
{A. O. H.] 
937. Nycticorax griseus (Linn.). 
Common in the lower valley of Kashmir. [G. H.] 
The eggs are well known. In the plains of Upper India 
it only breeds, so far as my experience goes, in August. 
[A. O. H.'] 
954. Casarca ratila (Pallas). 
The Brahminy Duck, or Buddy Shieldrake, was first 
noticed at the hot springs above Gokra at an elevation of 
16,000 feet ; there they were seen on small lakes at the Salt 
plain, and all along the Karakash river. The young were at 
that time (July) scarcely able to fly; when approached, the 
mother made them all dive by swimming and flapping on 
to each of them, as soon as it showed itself above the water. 
The mother also pretended to be wounded, and lay on the 
water every now and then, with wings spread out as if unable 
to fly. All along the Karakash valley, and also on the high 
tableland, wherever there was water overhung by cliff's, there 
numbers of Brahminy Ducks with broods of young ones were 
seen, and holes in these cliff's plastered over with droppings 
were pointed out by the Kirghiz as the places in which they had 
bred. The local name is ngooroo ngaugpa.^^ To Hin- 
doostan this species is only a winter visitant. [G. iJ.] 
961. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). 
Two Gadwalls were killed on the 31st October, at Gan- 
derbal, Kashmir, and many others were seen at the same 
