पृष्ठम्:Birds in Sanskrit literature.djvu/२३७

84 SWANS, GEESE, DUCKS AND MERGANSERS Sanskrit nomenclature corresponding to the common names in the title of this Article is हंस or महाहंस, कलहंस or कादम्ब-हंस, क्षुद्रहंस or हंसक, and कारण्डव respectively, and the epitomised expression ¹ approximates in meaning to the scientific name of the family, viz., Anatidae. Indian mythology recognizes the unity pervading the family when it regards the Swans, Grey Geese and Ducks as the progeny of the first Swan-Mother धृतराष्ट्री:- धृतराष्ट्री तु हंसां कलहंसांश्च सर्वशः । चक्रवाकांका भद्रं ते विजज्ञे साऽपि भामिनी ॥ - रामायण 3.14.19.; म. भा. 1.66.60. In this verse age (the Grey Lag noted for its mellow call note) stands for all grey Geese and (the beautiful Brahminy Duck) for all Indian Ducks. In the same way (note the plural in each case) denotes the all-white Swans as is clear from references to them in the Rg Veda, literature and the Lexicons. Amarasimha and others name the Grey Geese like the Grey Lag and the Bar-headed Goose asg and, and define ge as an entirely white bird with white wings () and distinguish three different varieties of it as we shall see presently. All the northern breeding grounds of the Swans and Geese are conventionally placed at or near the lake in the Himalayas. These birds do not breed within Indian limits, nevertheless poetical convention treats them as being under the influence of love during the cold season. The reson is that they are in a good condition and keep calling to one another, and hence expressions like मत्तहंस मत्तकलहंस, for according to पाराशर quoted by भट्टोत्पल in बृहत्संहिता, 85, 28, the मदकाल for हंस, कादंब, etc. is the शरद् ऋऋतु. A. SWANS 1. The Swans with which this section is concerned are Goose-like birds, pure white when adult but with heavier bodies and longer necks. 1. The expression, however, includes also the 'ger' or the 'T' or the Common or Black Coot-Art. 58. Swans, Geese, Ducks and Mergansers Rather awkward on land, they are very graceful on water. The Whooper and the Mute Swan are known to visit the extreme North-West of the sub- continent including Sind in small 'herds' during the non-breeding season i.e., from about December-January to June-July. When the winter is very severe in Northern and Central Asia the numbers visiting this country are larger than usual. The present position according to Hume is that Swans do not occur anywhere within Indian limits outside the Himalayas except in the extreme North-West. It is, however, more than probable that in the hoary past when the so-called sportsman of the present day with his rifle and gun was not known, they travelled further east and, were, therefore, met with at least, on the upper reaches of the Jumna and the Ganges. Being large and conspicuous birds and visiting the country in small numbers they now rarely escape slaughter and have no chance to renew their acquain- tance with the country. That the ancient Indians were quite familiar with them admits of no doubt. Not only did they know the two species named above but also the smaller but rarer and more striking Chinese Swan, Cygnus davidii, pure white like the others but with red bill, legs and feet. The possibility of Cygnus davidii visiting India has been admitted by noted ornithologists like Hume and Le Messurier.³ In case these three varieties of Swan could at times be seen on the Himalayan rivers and lakes, and the ancient Indian princes must have had them, at least occa- sionally as ornamental birds on their private lakes like the Mute Swan in Europe during recent times. The pair of Swans on a Lotus tank in the pleasure grounds of a temple of Siva in Banaras mentioned in the could only be tame birds - मरालीगलनालीस्थविसासक्तसितच्छदम् Frequent references to pet Cranes, Geese and Ducks also occur in litera- ture, 2. According to a story related in the , 7.18 god avoided by transforming himself into age and later granted a boon to the bird for his help and made him permanently white :- वर्णो मनोरमः सौम्यचन्द्रमण्डलसन्निभः । भविष्यति तवोदग्रः शुद्धफेनसमप्रभः ।। 7.18.29. हंसानां हि पुरा राम न वर्णः सर्वपाण्डुरः । पक्षा नीलाग्रसंवीताः क्रोडा: शष्पाग्रनिर्मला: ।-7.18.31. also describes this favourite bird (ga) of e as wholly white :- 423 1. Stray Feathres, IV.33. 2. Game, Shore and Water-birds of India, 4th Edn., p. 252. 3. काशीखण्ड, पूर्वाधं 32.99. The verse means that out of affection the male Swan is keen on sharing the soft lotus stalk which is being eaten by the female.