11-i INDIAN DTCKS. 



Genus CAS ARC A. 



The genus Casarra consists of four species, of which four tlie widest 

 i^pread is the well-known Indian Brahminy. Of the others, C. caaa is con- 

 fined to South Africa, C. varic'jata to New Zealand, and ('. tadornoides to 

 Australia and Tasmania. Of the four, also, thf Indian is the only 

 migratory one, the others being local residents or only locally migrator}'. 

 The bill differs from that of Tadorna in being no l)roader or narrower at 

 the tip than at the base. The lamellte also are more prominent at the base 

 of the upper Uiandible, whereas in Tadorna they are more developed 

 towards the tip. 



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



(21) CASARCA RUTILA. 

 THE EUDDT SHELDEAKE or BEAHMIXY DUCK. 



Casarca rutila, Jerdon, B. I. iii, p. 791; Hume, Str. Feath. i, p. 260; 



Adam, ibid. p. 401 ; Uume, Nests Sf Eygs, p. 6-il ; Ball, Sir. Feath. ii, 



p. 437; Hume, ibid, iii, p. 193 ; Butler, ibid, iv, p. 28 ; Scully, ibid. p. 198 ; 



Fairbanh, ibid., p. 264 ; Butler, ibid, v, p. 234 ; Hume ^' Davis, ibid, vi, 



p. 489 : Hume, ibid, viii, p. 115; Scully, ibid. p. 362; Hume Sf Mar. 



Game-B. iii, p. 123 ; Gates, Str. Feath. x, p. 245 ; Salvadori, Cat. B. M. 



xxvii, p. 177; Blanford, Fauna B. I. iv, p. 428. 

 Tadorna casarca, Legye, B. of Gey. pp. 1070, 1222 (Appendix) ; Gates, B. of 



Brit. Biirm. ii, p. 277; Hume, Nests ^- Fyys (Gates ed.), iii, 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. Scapu- 

 laries 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 ou the inner ; axillaries 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. 



