RUDDY SHELDRAKE 243 



The display is gooselike, consisting of the dipping of the head, as seen in true geese 

 and swans. The mating act takes place on land, or at times perhaps in shallow water, 

 and is followed by a postlude, also strictly anserine, the male standing beside his 

 mate with high-lifted wings, while the female swims about in a low crouching posi- 

 tion (Heinroth) . A viculturalists find that they do not breed the first year. 



The nest itself is always covered, like that of the Common Sheldrake, being 

 usually placed in crevices or holes in rocks, or steep cliffs, more rarely in burrows, 

 or among rocks on the ground, and even in holes in trees. A few of the more unusual 

 nesting sites are worthy of special mention. Holes among the ruins of the old city 

 of Merv are mentioned by Radde and Walter (1889), while Prjevalski (1878) 

 speaks of nests found in the fireplaces of deserted Mongol villages. In eastern Siberia 

 they are said to make use ordinarily of the abandoned nests of birds of prey on a 

 tree, or the hollow of a tree (Taczanowski, 1873). Walton (1906) says that in south- 

 ern Tibet, where they are so tame, they nest even in the ditches between fields. The 

 nest may in certain cases be a long distance from the water, and even on high sandy 

 clay -hills in the deserts, as in Transcaspia (Radde and Walter, 1889). In Chinese 

 Turkestan a nest was found eight miles from the water (Betham, Journ. Bombay 

 Nat. Hist. Soc. vol. 19, p. 751, 1909). 



Their cliff-nesting habits bring them into contact with Griffon Vultures, Egyptian 

 Vultures, Ravens and Black Kites (Tristram, 1884). Though usually nesting in high 

 places, they may imitate their relatives, the Common Sheldrakes, in choosing bur- 

 rows of various mammals, such as foxes, marmots, and badgers (Taczanowski, 

 1873). Radde (1884) says that they like fox-holes, but will frequently make their 

 own burrows, probably enlarging these from the holes of small birds or rodents. 



The nest is nothing but a mass of down and feathers, sometimes with a few twigs. 

 Hume and Marshall (1879) were told by natives that the feathers of the Bar-headed 

 Goose were sometimes utilized. The normal clutch probably numbers eight eggs, 

 sometimes perhaps as many as twelve, but everything beyond this number is, no 

 doubt, the work of two birds. The eggs themselves are not to be distinguished from 

 those of the Common Sheldrake, being a creamy, or ivory white, and very smooth. 

 They measure from 62 to 70.2 by 46 to 50 mm. The incubation period is twenty- 

 nine days (Heinroth, 1908), during which time the male stays closely by the nest, 

 warning the female of the approach of danger and actually protecting the nest by 

 attacking or distracting predatory animals and birds (A. E. Brehm, 1879; Heinroth, 

 1911). The young leave the elevated nesting-sites by jumping out, as do other 

 water-fowl, and both parents take part in bringing up the offspring. The young 

 develop very quickly, full plumage being attained by the end of the second month 

 (Rogeron, 1903). It is not known how long the young stay with the old pair. 



Food Value. The flesh is universally regarded as worthless, although some 



