ArES. 439 



About the middle of July several of these birds made 

 their appearance in pairs along the banks of the Anseba, 

 then a muddy torrent, and commenced buUding on 

 the trees overhanging the stream. Mr. Jesse killed 

 one hen bird at the end of July, containing a fully- 

 developed egg. 



In most of its habits this bird closely resembles 

 the common Chakwa of India, Casarca rutilans, but 

 it is more frequently seen on meadows. Both its flight 

 and caU are those of a Shieldrake rather than of a 

 Goose. 



The brown cheat-spot varies much in dimensions, and 

 is sometimes wanting. It is usually larger in the males 

 than in the females. 



281. Bernida cyanoptera, Eiipp. 



Kiippell, Syst. Uebers. p. 129, t. xlviL 



This dwarf Goose abounds on the Wadela and Dalanta 

 plateaux, above 9,000 to 10,000 feet, and is a conspicuous 

 member of the Subalpine fauna to which reference has 

 so frequently been made. I only saw the bird once 

 elsewhere : this was ia a high valley at about 8,500 

 feet above the sea, between Autalo and Ashangi. The 

 habits of the bird are rather those of a Shieldrake than 

 of a Goose, for it is not met with in flocks (at least that 

 is not the case in April, the season when I saw it), but 

 singly or in pairs, walking about on open grass plains 

 near streams and swamps. 



