250 Capt. L. H. Irby on Birds observed in Oudh and Kumaon. 
in small flocks of seven or eight, and a single bird—and is, as fa 
as I have seen, excessively wary. The pink head is very ap¬ 
parent when on the wing, contrasting with the dark plumage of 
the body: immature specimens are not so pink on the head and 
neck as the adult. 
208. Dafila acuta. (Pintail.) 
Very common in the cold season in large flocks. 
209. Mareca penelope. (Wigeon.) 
Seen in small numbers towards the end of the cold season. 
210. Querquedula crecca. (Teal.) 
Extremely numerous; arriving about the end of September. 
I know an instance of twenty-three having been bagged out of 
a flock. Three barrels were fired, and a single one was killed 
with the fourth barrel. A great haul for the pot this, especially 
when one is hard up for good food. 
211. Querquedula circia. (Garganey.) 
Frequently seen in the cold season; exceedingly common in 
February and March; I caught some young, half-fledged, in the 
month of September. It is, I suppose, an unsolved problem 
where the wild-fowl, waders, &c., which resort to the plains of 
India in the cold season, go to breed : to the Lakes of Thibet, 
and the river Yaroo, perhaps. The only wild-fowl which I 
noticed in Kumaon, on Nynee Tal, were—a single Goose, some 
Gadwalls, Shovellers, Teals and Garganeys, and a solitary Coot 
(Fulica atra) ; I also once saw a large Grebe, probably Podi- 
ceps cristata. These birds only remained on the lake for a 
day or two; indeed they could not live, the depth of the lake is 
so great that there can be little food for them, and there are not 
many weeds except close to the road. 
212. Branta rufina. (Bed-crested Pochard.) 
Exceedingly common in the cold season. Why was the 
epithet “ Whistling ” ever applied to this bird ? I have seen 
hundreds, and never once heard a whistle from one. In habits 
they resemble our Common Pochard. 
213. Fuligula ferina. (Common Pochard.) 
Occasionally seen in the cold season, but was not common. 
