THE DECCAN AND SOUTH MAHRATTA COUNTRY. 437 



from Mahableshwar. Messrs. Wenden aud Davidson, however, 

 in their Deccan list remark, "somewhat rare in the more open 

 parts of the country, but very common about the Avooded 

 districts in the rains and cold weather." I have shot it 

 occasionally about Belgaum in the rains. 



953.— Dendrocygna fulva, Gm. The Large Whist- 

 ling Teal. 

 Seasonal visitant. Rare. Mr. Fairbank procured a pair at 

 Nagar, and according to Mr. Wenden it occurs at Nulwar. I 

 have no other record of its occurrence throughout the region, 

 though Jerdon found it tolerably plentiful at Jalna in the 

 Deccan, in fact as common as the last species. 



954. — Casarca rutila, Pall. The Ruddy Shieldrake 

 or Brahminy Duck. 



Cold weather visitant. Not uncommon on the larger rivers 

 in the Deccan ; but does not extend to Ratnagiri, so far as we 

 know at present, and it is rare in the Belgaum district. Jerdon 

 remarks, " that it is a well-known winter visitant to all parts of 

 the country." 



957.— Spatula clypeata, Lin. The Shoveller. 



Cold weather visitant. Net uncommon in the Deccan, but 

 rare in Ratnagiri and about Belgaum. It occurs throughout 

 India according to Jerdon. 



958 —Anas boschas, Lin. The Mallard or Common 

 Wild Duck. 



Cold weather visitant. Rare. I have only once met with 

 this species within the region, and that was at Habli on the 

 Dharwar road, about 18 miles south-east of Belgaum. I flushed 

 three from a small tank and shot one, but have no other record 

 of its occurrence within our limits. 



959.— Anas pcecilorhyncha, Font. The Spotbill or 

 Grey Duck. 



Probably a permanent resident in some districts. Not 

 uncommon in the Deccan, but not recorded from Ratnagiri, and 

 not common about Belgaum. 



? 960.— Rhodonessa caryophyllacea, Lath. The Pink- 

 headed Duck. 



Seasonal visitant. Rare. Mr. Fairbank remarks in his list 

 of Khandala species, &c, "one rose from a tank close by me, 

 so that I am sure of its identity though I did not bag it." 

 The bird referred to not having been secured, aud having no 



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