GENUS CAsARCA, Dill moderate in size, nail large, lamellae 
slender : wings long; tail short; tarsus stout ; toes long: hind toe 
lobed. 
(954) Casarca RutTILA, Ruddy Sheldrake, or “Brahminy Duck” as 
it is commonly called, breeds beside large lakes in Thibet. I saw them 
early in spring paddling about, the cold waters at Shumpu, lake near 
the snows, beyond Jongri, or Tringbrum, in north Sikkim. There 
is a likelihood that a few of these birds, along with some of the 
other species of water-birds breed, in this locality, in preference to 
continuing their journey over the passes into Thibet. This Shal- 
drake is better known as Chakwa, Chakwi, the name being taken, 
from a modified part of the long conversation, the drake and its 
pair, appear to carry on, during the long moon-light nights, from 
different corners of the jhil, on which they are spending their winter 
retreat ; or the somewhat anxious months, prior to their homeward 
flight. These ducks are natty looking birds, when observed either 
on the surface of the water, or on the shore. Male is readily made 
out by its glossy black collar. A closer examination of Ruddy 
Sheldrake shows nicely tinted, and a general prevailing colour of 
orange and yellow; back is orange brown ; head of the drake is 
ochreous ; yellow with greyish white on the nape, and crown of the 
head ; glossy greenish black on tail coverts ; white on wing-coverts, 
excepting greater-coverts, which are green with a purple gloss ; 
primaries are black; breast and under parts of the body orange 
fulvous. In size it is about 25 inches. Female is smaller, and has 
a more sombre appearance, nevertheless Sheldrake, like all birds, is 
proud of his mate. These birds when taking stock of their vocal 
accomplishments, apart from the animated Chuckwa, Chucki conver- 
sation ; have a loud clarionet-like call, frequently heard on one of 
these beautifully clear winter mornings in the plains, when, it may 
be, it is your privilege to find yourself by the bank of a large 
expanse of water, or drifting slowly down stream in a homely 
budgerow. These clarionet-like calls appear clearer and louder, in 
spring when the birds are met with on lakes and marshes near on 
15,000 feet elevation, where they make the welkin ring ; the hills to 
resound and echo, with startling effect, though on the whole per- 
haps, they are much quieter, and the call is only uttered when dis- 
turbed. There is, little, accurate information of the nidification 
of these birds, hillmen tell us, that they build, among rocks and 
shallow holes, near the outskirts of these lakes and marshes, in 
Thibet, occasionally in inaccessible places; probably the jostling 
they have received in the plains of India have made, some a bit 
cheery of reposing over much trust and confidence in the powers 
that be. 
