240 CAS ARC A FERRUGINEA 



Abel Chapman (1921) often noticed them squatting flat on the russet-colored sand, 

 and when in this position they were very hard to see because the brilliant speculum 

 and white wing-patches were quite covered by the body feathers. 



Perching. There are very few notes about its perching habits, but it must of 

 necessity perch during the breeding season, for the nest is often on almost inaccessible 

 cliffs, banks or trees. In Asia Minor they were observed perching on the ruined 

 walls among which the nests were located (Selous, Ibis, ser. 7, vol. 6, p. 410, 1900). 

 In captivity free-winged specimens like to perch on roofs of buildings, and even on 

 the narrow T-irons on the wiring of enclosures (Heinroth, 1911). 



Flight. Heinroth (1911) says that when about to fly they hold their heads high 

 and wag them to and fro quickly, uttering their call-notes. When in flight the wing- 

 beats are slow and gooselike, but this appearance is deceptive, for in reality Shel- 

 drakes travel very fast, and are often missed by sportsmen (Hume and Marshall, 

 1879). The Casarcas are able, when on the wing, to drop or dive like a bird of prey, 

 a habit which may enable them to escape large, rapacious birds. This proclivity 

 was noted by Heinroth (1911), who says he never saw Peregrines attack them, 

 though they did annoy Gray Geese. These Sheldrakes are strikingly handsome in 

 flight, the slow wing-beats showing off the white wing-patches against the cinnamon 

 body to the greatest advantage. Before alighting they usually circle about for a time, 

 gliding and scaling, and indulging in very graceful movements (A. E. Brehm, 1879). 



So far as is known, individual pairs remain together throughout the year and the 

 large flocks which assemble for migration are composed exclusively of paired birds. 

 After the breeding season they are quite gregarious, but in the winter quarters the 

 pairs again become isolated (Seebohm, 1885; Hume and Marshall, 1879). Flocks 

 consisting of over one hundred have been described by Prjevalski (1878), and 

 Radde (1854) saw aggregations of thousands in south Russia in late summer. Flocks 

 of thousands are to be found in India too, just before the spring migration (Jerdon, 

 1864). 



Association with other Species. Ruddy Sheldrakes are very independent 

 in their habits, and as a rule their presence among other water-fowl is accidental. 

 In Africa, however, they do appear in company with Egyptian Geese, to which 

 species, of course, they are quite closely related (A. L. Butler, 1905; Koenig, 1911; 

 A. Chapman, 1921 ; etc.). It has been suggested that the similarity of the white wing- 

 patch in both species may in part explain this association (Heinroth, 1911), but 

 their very similar habits may just as easily account for it. In India they have been 

 seen with flocks of Comb Ducks (Ball, Stray Feathers, vol. 2, p. 437, 1874). During 

 the breeding season their practice of resorting to rocks brings them in contact with 



