400 TADORNINA. 
Casarca rutila, Pall. 
954.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 791; Butler, Guzerat ; 
Stray Feathers, Vol. IV, p. 27; Deccan, Stray Feathers, Vol. 
IX, p. 4387; Murray’s Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 288; 
Game Birds of India, Vol. II, p. 122; Tadorna casarca, 
Pall. ; Swinhoe and Barnes, Central India; Ibis, 1885, p. 137. 
THE RUDDY SHIELDRAKE. 
3 Chakwa, 9° Chakwi, Hin. 
&. Length, 245 to 27:0; expanse, 48:0 to 52:5; wing, 1425 
to 15:5; tail, 54 to 63; tarsus, 23 to 2°7; bill from gape, 2:2 
to 24; weight, 3 to 4} lbs. 
9. Length, 21°75 to 240 ; expanse, 42:5 to 47°75; wing, 12°36 
to 140; tail, 506 to 60; tarsus, 212 to 24; bill from gape, 
2:0 to 2:3; weight, 2;', to 3,5, lbs. 
Bill black ; irides dark-brown ; legs and feet black. 
Male, forehead and cheeks pale ochreous-yellow or ferruginous ; 
the region of the eyes, crown and nape, greyish-white; the 
rest of the neck ochreous-yellow, tinged with orange, surrounded 
by a glossy black collar nearly half an inch wide ; the back and 
scapulars orange-fulvous, some of the feathers edged paler ; upper 
tail-coverts glossy green black; lesser and middle wing-coverts 
white ; greater-coverts green, glossed with purple; primaries 
black ; secondaries glossy green ; tertials bright fulvous ; chin 
pale yellowish ; breast and lower parts orange-fulvous, deepest 
on the breast. 
The black collar is only seasonal and is never assumed by the 
female. 
The Shieldrake or Brahminy Duck is a common cold weather 
visitant to all parts of the region ; itis generally seen in pairs 
or small parties. It is an extremely wary, difficult bird to 
approach, and takesa pleasure in putting every bird within hearing 
on the gud vive, by keeping in front of the sportsman, but just 
out of range and uttering its warning note just at a critical 
moment. The best way to get rid of them is to indulge in a 
little rifle practice at their expense. 
Genus, Tadorna, Leach. 
Bill short, high, and gibbous at the base, concave in the 
middle ; the tip flattened and turning upwards, of nearly uniform 
breadth ; the nail abruptly hooked; marginal lamelle not 
projecting ; wing tuberculated; tarsus moderate; feet rather 
short ; tail of 16 feathers. 
Tadorna cornuta, S. G. Gm. 
956.—T. vulpanser, Flem.—Jerdon’s Birds of India, Vol. II, 
p. 794; Murray’s Vertebrate Zoology of Sind, p. 290; Game 
Birds of India, Vol. ITI, p. 135. 
