384. Me. A. L. Butler on the 



of the old birds are in full moult, and, having shed all their 

 flight-feathers simultaneously, are quite incapable of rising 

 from the water. I have seen at least sixty in this condition 

 out of a flock of about two hundred. I have also seen 

 pairs accompanied by small goslings in the same month. 

 Mr. Hawker's experience seems to have been much the 

 same, but Mr. Witherby describes them as mating at the end 

 of April. Doubtless a certain number breed at all times of 

 the year. 



270. Tadorxa casarca (Linn.). 



The Ruddy Sheldrake is abundant on the White Nile 

 during the winter. It associates more with the Egyptian 

 Geese than with the Ducks, and, like the Geese, rests during 

 the day in large gatherings on the banks, instead of on the 

 water. 



271. Mareca penelope (Linn.). 



One of our less abundant Ducks in the winter. 1 have shot 

 it several times at Khartoum. 



272. Querquedula crecca (Linn.). 



Fairly plentiful on the rivers from October until March. 

 I have several times shot it at Khartoum. 



273. Querquedula circia (Linn.). 

 a. S • Khartoum, Sept. 28, 1902. 



The Garganey Teal is abundant — much more so than the 

 last species — in the winter and spring. 



274. Dafila acuta (Linn.). 



a. ? . Khartoum, Dec. 19, 1902. 



The Pintail is the most abundant of the northern Ducks 

 which winter in the Soudan. It arrives at the end of 

 September or beginning of October, and may be met with as 

 late as the end of May. 



275. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). 

 a. . Khartoum. 



The Shoveler is a common Duck in the winter, and 

 remains late into the spring. 



