90 ANATID^E 



resorts to fresh waters, collecting into large flocks in winter 

 in those countries where it is common. 



Flight. The flight resembles that of the last species. 



Food. In its habits of feeding it resembles the Goose 

 even more than the preceding species. It may be observed 

 in our city parks and Zoological Gardens ' grazing ' on 

 the lawns and grass edgings which skirt the ornamental 

 waters. It is a favourite and showy water-fowl, readily 

 tamed, and hybrids between this species and the Egyptian 

 Goose have frequently been raised. 



Voice. The note is loud, and resembles a repeated bark ; 

 it may be syllabled kape-kape-kape. I have heard this bird 

 also utter a rather melancholy a-Ong, a-ong. 



Nest. Like its congener, the Ruddy Sheld-Duck breeds 

 in burrows, also in the dark crevices of high rocks, and in 

 the hollow trunks of trees. The nest is built of dry grass 

 and other vegetable matter and thickly lined with down. 

 The eggs are creamy-white in colour. The clutch ranges 

 from nine to sixteen. 



Geographical distribution. The breeding-range of the 

 Ruddy Sheld-Duck extends over South-Eastern Europe and 

 Asia, and as far east as China and Japan. It breeds also in 

 North Africa. In winter, its migrations extend to India, 

 and as a wanderer it has been observed in many of the 

 northern countries of Europe, including Iceland. 



DESCRIPTIVE CHARACTERS. 



PLUMAGE. Adult male nuptial. Head and throat, pale 

 buff; neck, back, scapulars, breast and abdomen, ruddy- 

 brown ; black ring round the neck ; wing-coverts, very light 

 buff, the alar speculum being of a lustrous bronze-green 

 colour ; primaries, dark greyish-brown ; tail and rump, 

 greyish-black. 



Adult female nuptial. The black ring is absent, while 

 the front of the head is lighter in colour than in the male. 



Adult winter, male and female. The black neck-ring is 

 absent. 



Immature, male and female. Resembles the female, but 

 is duller in shade. 



BEAK. Lead colour. 



FEET. Blackish. 



IRIDES. Yellowish-brown. 



