576 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XI. 



Genus CASARCA. 



The genus Casarca consists of four species, of which four the widest 

 spread is the well known Indian Brahminy. Of the others C. cana is 

 confined to South Africa, C. variegata to New Zealand, and C. tador- 

 noides to Australia and Tasmania. Of the four also the Indian is the 

 only migratory one, the others being local residents or only locally 

 migratory. The bill differs from that of Tadorna in being no broader 

 or narrower at the tip than at the base. The camellse also are more 

 prominent at the base of the upper mandible, whereas in Tadorna 

 they are more developed towards the tip. 



Both sexes have a rudimentary spur on the shoulder (carpal joint). 



18. Casarca rutila. 



The Ruddy Sheldrake or Brahminy Duck. 



Casarca rutila. Jerdon, " Birds of India," III, p. 791 ; Hume, "Stray 

 Feathers," I, p. 260 ; Adam, ibid, p. 401 ; Hume, " Nests and Eggs," 

 p. 641 ; Ball, " Stray Feathers," II, p. 437 ; Hume, ibid, III, p. 193 ; 

 Butl., ibid, IV, p. 28 ; Scully, ibid, p. 198 ; Fairbank, ibid, p. 264 ; 

 Butl., ibid, V, p. 234 ; Hume and Davis, ibid, VI, p. 489 ; Hume, 

 ibid, VIII, p. 115 ; Scully, ibid, p. 362; Hume and Marshall, " Game 

 Birds of India," III, p. 123 ; Oates, " Stray Feathers," X, p. 245 ; 

 Salvadori, " Cat. of Birds of British Museum," Vol. XXVII, p. 177. 



Tadorna casarca. Legge, "Birds of Ceylon," p. 1070, p. 1222, 

 Appendix; 'Oates, u Birds of British Burmah," II, p. 277 ; Hume, 

 " Nests and Eggs" (2nd Ed.), Ill, p. 280. 



Description : Adult Male. — Whole head and upper part of the neck 

 buff, changing gradually into bright orange-brown at the base of the 

 latter. Scapularies and back, flanks, and whole lower plumage rather 

 bright orange-brown, lower back finely vermiculated black and rufous ; 

 upper tail coverts and tail black. Wing coverts white, quills black, 

 secondaries glossed rich green on the outer webs forming a well defined 

 speculum. Hume says that the speculum may be either bronze or green, 

 but I have personally seen none of the former colour. 



Inner secondaries light buff more or less tinged with rufous on the 

 outer web and principally grey on the inner. Asillaries and under 

 wing coverts white. 



In the breeding season there is a black collar at the base of the neck 

 usually very indistinct in Indian birds and often absent. 



