28 NOTES ON THE AVIFAUNA OF MOUNT ABOO 
its heavy goose-like flight ; 2nd, by its very dark color ; 3rd, by 
its peculiar shrill note. 
[Occurs throughout the entire region, but is very rare, if 
think, in Sindh and Jodhpoor. Mr. Adam never obtained it 
at Sambhur. 
Although we have no record of its occurrence except on the 
Eastern Narra and some of the larger lakes in Sindh, I feel 
sure that 953 Dendrocyna major, Jerd., must occur during the 
monsoon in Guzerat, Cutch and Kattiawar.—A. O. H.] 
954.—Casarca rutila, Pall. 
The Ruddy Shieldrake or Brahminy Duck is_ tolerably 
common, but one of the wariest ducks that visits our marshes. 
[Occurs during the cold season throughout the entire region. 
—A. 0. H.] 
957.—Spatula clypeata, Linn. 
The Shoveller and the Gadwall are the two commonest 
species of ducks in this part of the country, and no one 
but those who have visited the tanks in the cold weather can 
form an idea of the abundance of these birds. I remember 
upon one occasion making an extraordinarily good bag upon a 
tank about 35 miles north of Ahmedabad. There were two of 
us out, and we took up our stands at about 2-30 p.m, At 5-30 
P.M. we discontinued shooting, and sent coolies into the water 
to collect the dead and wounded. I laid my birds in rows 
as they were brought out of the water, arranging them accor- 
ding to species, and a more imposing sight I never saw. 
There were eighty birds in all, representing fifteen different 
varieties, and every one of them was shot separately and on 
the wing, that is to say, there was no firing into the brown of 
big flocks closely packed on the water or mud banks, resuit- 
ing in the death of half a dozen or so at one shot; the birds of 
which there were thousands were kept constantly on the wing 
by coolies beating at both ends of the tank, and as they 
passed our screens, which were erected upon islands in the 
middle of the tank, we selected single birds to shoot at. 
We lost a great many wounded birds that dived immedi- 
ately ; they fell on the water and were seen no more. My 
friend shot 47, which added to mine made a total of 127 
ducks in three hours shooting, a bag, which I imagine, few 
sportsmen have beaten. 
[Common throughout the entire region.—A. O. H.] 
958.—Anas boschas, Lin. 
The Mallard or Common European Wilduck is one of the most 
uncommon species we have, and only occurs in small numbers 
on a few of the tanks. 
