or Ruddy Shieldrakes (almost the only Ducks with which
they ever do closely associate) who, ever on the alert, effectually
prevent any surprise of their comrades.
They tame very readily, and will live well in captivity,
becoming very gentle, docile birds, and I do not understand
why they have not been domesticated, since, although not by
any means first-rate eating, they arc quite as good, when well
fed in the poultry yards, as the Muscovy Duck (Cairina muscliata)
of Central America, and would probably like this*
produce very fine hybrids with the common domestic Duck.
Jerdon correctly says that this bird is generally little esteemed
for the table, and I must say I think justly so. If roasted,
when in good condition, with nice sage and onion stuffing, and
served with a good gravy made from other things and Indian
apple sauce (?.<?., the fruit of the Papaw with lime juice), they
are of course nice enough, though rather hard, and if you are
very hungry you will not grumble, let them be cooked as they
may ; but, judging them impartially on their own merits, the
old birds are never worth cooking when any of the better
migratory Ducks are available, and even the young, in November
and December, though often as fat and tender as possible, have
almost invariably a certain faint, marshy flavour, which it needs
a good sauce to correct and conceal.
My personal knowledge of this species has been mainly
acquired in the North-Western Provinces ; elsewhere their habits
and haunts may be different, and I gladly quote Colonel Tickcll's
account of the species, partly because his experience seems to
contradict mine on many points, and partly for the sake of
an anecdote he tells of what befell him once when after a
Comb Duck.
He says: " I have met with these birds chiefly about West
Burdwan, Bankoora, Singhbhoom, and Chota Nagpur, in
open, uncultivated, bushy country, on a gravelly soil scattered
over with small clear ponds or tanks, where they may
be found in parties of four or five, resting during the heat of
the day on the clean pebbly or sandy margins, and flying off,
if disturbed, to the next piece of water. The scenery of Chota
Nagpur is remarkable for the number of huge, dome-like
granite rocks which start in isolated masses from its plains,
and in places project from the soil in the shape of huge slabs,
covering perhaps two or three acres of ground. These are
often hollowed into pools of pellucid water, forming natural
baths, so clean and refreshing as to tempt the most fastidious
to a dip. These rocky ponds are much frequented by the
" nukwas," especially at Bhandra, where I met with greater
» In the Straits, people habitually raise for the table hybrids between the
Muscovy and Common Duck, which combine the size of the former with the delicacy
of flavour of the latter. These hybrids are infertile. They lay quantities of eggs,
(which are pale sea green, unlike those of either parent) but these never hatch,
numbers of these birds than in any other locality. But whercever
found they appear to prefer clear water with a gravelly
or stone bottom, and are never seen in shallow, muddy jlu'ls
or marshes, which attract such hosts of other kinds of Wild
Fowl. In this respect they resemble Casarcn rutila (the
Brahminy or Ruddy Goose). They are very wary, and, as they
take to wing generally at a long shot distance, and have both
skin and plumage exceedingly thick, it is difficult to kill them
with an ordinary fowling piece ; and if winged on the water,
they dive so incessantly as to require the help of several
people, even in small ponds, to catch them.
"At Bhandra, in January 1840, I had an odd adventure
while stalking a fine gander nukwa, which was swimming on
one of the rocky pools I have above described. The ground
was entirely composed of great horizontal slabs and fields of
granite, garnished everywhere with jujube or " bair" bushes ;
and about two hundred yards behind me rose a mass of
towering perpendicular rocks, which cast a cool grey shade
over the pretty little tarns or " lakelets" spread at their feet.
Now "Bandra pahar," as these rocks arc termed, is, or was,
a notorious stronghold or refuge for all the vagabond bears
in the vicinity, who, after roaming the livelong night over
the country, repaired, as dawn broke, in twos and threes, to
the fissures and caves within these huge boulders. As evening
drew on, these nocturnal marauders would creep stealthily
out of their fastnesses, and as darkness increased sally out
into the surrounding plain. And thus it came to pass that
on the day, aforesaid, as I drew warily towards the " nukwa"
a bear, which had emerged from a black crevice in the rock
behind me, followed in my wake—with no evil intentions, I
believe, for I do not think he spied me for a considerable time,
but simply in pursuit of his usual evening meal of balrs and
white ants, for which he scratched and snuffed in the manner
peculiar to these beasts. The noise he made soon caused me
to be aware of his propinquity; and ere long I began to feel
in that condition which the natives of India designate as " do
dil" (two hearts), or, as we should say, of two minds—whether
to continue advancing to the attack of the Goose, or turn to
cover my rear from that of the bear. Those were not the
days of breech-loaders, when I could have shot the first, and
then, whipping in a ball cartridge, have so disposed of the
second. Hinc ilia; lachrymce—" hence my quandary." I looked
at the bear as he dug and grubbed and approached, and then
cautiously at the " nukwa" with his snowy-white breast
reflected on the pool. The sight of the latter was irresistible.
I was nearly within shot, and continued my insidious approach,
determined that if the bear charged me, I would let him come
close, bang both barrels of shot at his eyes, and then take
to my scrapers. So, like a red Indian in the forest, I stole