242 
Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds 
155. Rhyncma bengalensis. (Painted Snipe.) 
Found in small numbers throughout the year. Like the 
Jacksnipe, this bird will not rise till nearly trodden upon, and 
then only flies a few yards. 
156. Metopidius indicus. 
Very common in the rainy season; frequenting weedy, grassy 
jheels. 
157. Hydrophasianus chirurgus. 
Very common in the rainy season; arrives in June, and last 
seen in September. When flying, which it does very strongly 
and fast, its screams may be heard a long way. This handsome 
Jacana is included in Mr. Gould’s Century of Birds from the 
Himalaya. It is certainly rare in Kumaon; I never saw it there 
during the two hottest months in the year; and there is no 
locality there adapted to its habits—not even the mountain lakes. 
158. Grus antigone. (Saras Crane.) 
Found in great numbers in the cold season, generally in pairs, 
though sometimes in flocks, whereas the Common and Demoiselle 
Cranes are always seen in flocks. Many Saras remain to 
breed in Oudh, forming an immense nest of grass and rushes 
in the centre of large jheels. The number of eggs, which are 
laid in June, is generally two : some eggs are pure white; others 
white, spotted with red at the larger end. The young birds are 
easily reared by hand, and become very tame and attached to the 
person who feeds them, following him like a dog. They are 
very amusing birds, going through the most grotesque dances 
and antics, and are well worth keeping in captivity. One which 
I kept, when bread and milk was given to him, would take the 
bread out of the milk, and wash it in his pan of water before 
eating it. This bird, which was taken out of the King’s Palace 
at Lucknow, was very fierce towards strangers and dogs, espe¬ 
cially if they were afraid of him: he was very noisy, the only 
bad habit he possessed. The natives say that if a S&ras be killed, 
its mate will never pair again; certainly I have heard the 
survivor calling all night for its mate, and since then I never 
would shoot them. 
The flesh somewhat resembles that of a Goose ; it makes capital 
