SPATULA CLYPEATA. 197 
273. Tadorna rutila (Pall.)- The Ruddy Sheldrake. 
Moorish. Bou-ha (Fauier) . Spanish. Pato tarro. 
" This species is resident at no great distance from 
Tangier; and others are migratory^ crossing to Europe 
during April and May, returning in September and October. 
In the immediate vicinity of Tangier it is scarce and only 
observed in small lots on the lakes and large rivers. Often 
they entirely, though irregularly, disappear for months at a 
time, probably going to marshes not very far off. The 
months during which they are usually absent are February, 
March, and June." — Favier. 
The Ruddy Sheldrake, best known to Anglo-Indians as 
the Brahminy Duck, is quite an inland bird, though some- 
times frequenting salt lagoons, and is much more frequent 
on the African than on the Spanish side of the Straits, where 
I never met with it alive, though I have seen a few in Seville 
market in spring and the end of autumn. They are said to 
nest near the mouth of the Guadalquivir ; and there can be 
no doubt but they do breed somewhere north of the Straits. 
They nest in holes in cliffs and rocks ; and an account is 
given of one nest by Mr. Salvin, in 'The Ibis ^ for 1859 
(p. 362). In Morocco they are very wary; and I recollect, 
in company with a brother officer, trying in vain to approach 
three which we saw near Vincent's Farm, Sharf el Akab, in 
October : but at last they luckily pitched close to a horse 
feeding in the marsh ; so we stalked up behind the animal to 
within twenty-five yards of the Ducks, bagging all three. 
I have repeatedly seen them exposed for sale in Tangier 
market, with their throats slit in Mahometan fashion. 
This Sheldrake has the head of a buff colour, darkening 
on the neck to a rufous brown, the adult male having a black 
ring at the base of the neck. 
The total length is about 25 inches. 
274. Spatula clypeata (Linn.). The Shoveller. 
Moorish. Bou-slafa (father of the bowl). Spanish. Pale- 
tone, Sardinero. 
"This Duck is, in some winters, common near Tangier, 
