TADORNA CASARCA 199 



encircled by a black ring ; rump irregularly marked with black streaks ; 

 quills, tail and upper tail-coverts black ; secondaries with a purple-green 

 alar bar, the inner secondaries with ash-grey on their inner webs ; wing- 

 coverts white. 



Ii'is brown ; bill and feet blackish. 



Total length 24 inches, w'ing 14, culmen 1-75, tai'sus 2-50. 



Adult female differs from the male in having the head whitish, the 

 plumage in general rather paler, and in lacking the black neck collar. 



Although perhaps not so often met with as the preceding species, 

 the Buddy Sheld-Duck is not uncommon in Tunisia, and is also 

 resident in the country, specimens being obtained at all seasons. 

 It has been observed near the town of Tunis, as well as at Porto 

 Farina and Sousa, and Canon Tristram informs me that he found it 

 breeding at Kef-Laks. I have also an immature specimen obtained 

 on the island of Djerba in the month of August. Loche states that 

 the species occurs in Algeria, specimens having been obtained near 

 Boghar, Laghouat, and even in the Sahara, while Salvin records it as 

 being numerous on all the salt lakes of the elevated plains. In 

 Marocco, according to Favier, the species is both resident and 

 migratory. Colonel Irby says he has repeatedly seen examples 

 exposed for sale in Tangier market. In Italy this Duck is rare, 

 and of accidental occurrence, but it has been obtained occasionally, 

 and is also recorded from Malta. 



It differs from the preceding species in preferring inland lakes to 

 the sea-coast, and in many of its habits is said to resemble the Geese 

 more than the true Ducks, grazing in corn and grass fields, and 

 walking with ease like the former. Besides feeding on vegetable 

 matter, however, it also eats small molluscs, worms and insects. It 

 has a loud ringing note something like " kerk," repeated several times. 

 It nests in holes in cliffs, or among rocks, in hollow trees, and even 

 in the deserted nests of other birds, and lays from eight to sixteen 

 eggs of a creamy-white colour and smooth-grained. They measure 

 about 65 X 45 mm. 



