428 



Distribution. The north temperate parts of Europe and Asia, in 

 the breediog-season ; Southern Europe, Northern Africa, Western 

 Asia, Northern India, Southern China, and Japan in winter. The 

 Sheldrake is generally, but very sparsely, distributed over Northern 

 India in the cold season from the Indus valley to Assam. A speci- 

 men has recently been obtained by Gates from Myitkyina on the 

 Upper Irrawaddy, and one was reported in the 'Asian ' for 28th 

 November, 1890, from Meiktila, also in Upper Burma. The only 

 places in India where Sheldrakes are fairly common are near the 

 sea-coast in Sind, and on some of Jhe larger inland broads or 

 shallow lakes like the Mauchhar. 



Habits, $'c. In general the Sheldrake is a sea-coast bird, living 

 chiefly on mollusca, small Crustacea, and vegetable matter. It 

 keeps generally singly or in twos or threes, rarely in flocks, it 

 walks well and is, as a rule, found on shore. Its flesh is rank and 

 fishy. It does not breed in India ; in Europe it generally lays its 

 eggs in holes, often in rabbit burrows. 



Genus CASARCA, Bonap., 1838. 



Very similar to Tadorna, but the bill is straighter and less 

 concave above ; the nail less hooked beneath ; tail short, rounded, 

 -of 14 feathers. The sexes are slightly different. Four species are 

 recognized, of which one is Indian, 



1588. Casarca rutila. The Ruddy Sheldrake or Brahminy Duck. 



Anas casarca, Linn. Syst. Nat. iii, App. p. 224 (1768). 



Anas rutila, Pallas, Nov. Com. Petrop. xiv, 1, p. 579, pi. 22, fig. 1 

 (1770). 



Casarca rutila, Bonap. Comp. List B. Eur. fy N. Amer. p. 56 (1838) ; 

 Blyth, Cat. p. 303 ; Adams, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 509; 1859, p. 189 ; 

 Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 791 ; Stoliczka, J. A. S. B. xxxvii, pt. 2, p. 70 ; 

 Blanf. J. A. S. B. xli, pt. 2, p. 73 ; Hume, S. F. i, p. 260 ; Adam, 

 ibid. p. 401 ; Hume $ Renders. Lah. to Yark. p. 296 ; Hume, N. # 

 E. p. 641 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi, p. 489 ; Ball, S. F. vii, p. 232 ; 

 Cripps, ibid. p. 311; Hume, ibid. p. 492; id. Cat. no. 954; Scully, 

 S. F. viii, p. 362 ; Hume 8? Marsh. GameB. iii, p. 123, pi. ; Butler, 

 S. F. ix, p. 437 ; Reid, S. F. x, p. 80 ; Davidson, ibid-, p. 325 ; 

 Hume, ibid. p. 417 ; Taylor, ibid. p. 531 ; Barnes, Birds Bom. 

 p. 4CO ; Hume, S. F. xi, p. 342 ; St. John, Ibis, 1889, p. 179 ; 

 Salvador*, Cat. B. M. xxvii, p. 177. 



Tadorna casarca, Anders. Yunnan Exped., Aves, p. 699 ; Legqe, Birds 

 Ceyl. pp. 1070, 1222 ; Oates, B. B. ii. p. 277 ; Swinh. $ Barnes, 

 Ibis, 1885, p. 137 ; Oates in Humes N. fy E. 2nd ed. iii, p. 286. 

 Chakwa <$ , Chakwi , Surkhdb, Ldl, II. ; Mungh, Sind ; Buyri, 

 Beng. ; Sarza, Chakrawdk, Mahr. ; Bapana Chilluica, Tel.; Kesarpandia, 

 Pandahdnsa, Uriya ; Nir-batha, Nir-koli, South India; Hintha,tturm. 



Coloration. Male. Head and neck buff, generally rather darker 

 011 the crown, cheeks, chin, and throat, and passing on the neck 

 into the orange-brown or ruddy ochreous of the body above and 

 below. A black collar round the lower neck is assumed about 

 March and disappears as a rule about November. Scapulars like 

 back ; lower back and rump ochreous and black, vermiculated ; 



