RUDDY SHELDRAKE 237 



recorded from the vicinity of Peking (David and Oustalet, 1877; Walton, 1903; R. Swinhoe, 1861). 

 In the interior it has been found common on the Lower Yangtse (Styan, 1891; Seebohm, 1884) and 

 in western China about Kiating (E. H. Wilson, 1913). In the north there are records for the Provinces 

 of Shen-si (Sharpe, 1901) and Kan-su with the Ordos (Deditius, 1897). Prjevalski (1878) says a 

 limited number winter on the Hoang-Ho. This seems to be its northernmost winter limit in this region. 

 The species is evidently common in cold weather in south Manchuria and Korea Manchuria 

 (Kuroda, 1918). Campbell (1892) found it about Seoul and Chemulpo. As I remarked „ 

 above, the bird has been taken in Japan. Temminck and Schlegel (Fauna Japonica, 

 Aves, p. 128, 1847-49 ) obtained specimens, presumably from about Nagasaki, and •* " 

 Seebohm (1890) thinks it must be confined to that region although very rare there. Ogawa (1908), 

 in his recent list of Japanese birds, gives it for Nagasaki without comment. 



Migration 



There is very little that needs to be said of the migration of this species. Favier (Jide Dresser, 1871- 

 81) tells us that a few of the Moroccan birds are migratory, but their journey is probably limited to 

 passage across the Straits to Spain. In northwest Africa the birds appear to be resident. As I have 

 pointed out there seems to be some movement up the Nile to Abyssinia in winter, though there are 

 no data at hand. There must be considerable migration in western Siberia, however, where the birds 

 leave the Kirgis steppes for Persia in the winter. We have a few dates concerning their movements 

 in India and northward. According to Hume and Marshall (1879) and Baker (1908) the birds 

 arrive in northern India in late September or early October. There the flocks break up and the 

 separate couples very slowly work their way south, reaching the Central Provinces in late October or 

 early November, and arriving in the Deccan in late November. In the spring they start from the 

 Deccan by the end of February or early March, from the Central Provinces by the middle of March, 

 and from northern India by April. Some few stay until later, however, and there are instances of a 

 few in northern India even in late May. Prjevalski (1878) says that they arrive at Tsaidam as 

 early as February 10, and in southeast Mongolia by early March. These are probably not Indian 

 birds. 



GENERAL HABITS 



Haunts. Owing to its intelligence and adaptability, the Ruddy Sheldrake is able 

 to exist in a great variety of climates and environments. It is essentially a fresh-water 

 species, in this respect being the exact opposite of the Common Sheldrake. In its 

 general habits it very closely approaches the Nile Goose; in fact the Nile Goose is 

 one of the few birds with which it ever associates. In the regions about the Black 

 Sea, which is its great center of abundance in Europe, it not only frequents the 

 lagoons, but is often seen far inland on tributaries of the Danube. Here it is found 

 grazing on young grass and corn near the water's edge and sometimes visiting inland 

 pastures in the company of geese (Seebohm, 1885). In certain places they resort to 

 the seacoast for protection, returning inland to feed (Radde, 1854). Speaking of 

 the Caucasus, Radde (1884) says they go far inland to breed, flocking to the sea 

 in August in great numbers. In the valleys of the Kura and Araxes they seem un- 

 concerned as to the nature of their abode, frequenting artificial oases, deserted 

 barren wildernesses and fertile meadows near streams; or again the hot regions of 

 the lower Araxes. They do not care particularly for large bodies of fresh water, 



