RUDDY SHIELDEAKB. 167 



kind, but not breeding in that part of the country. Mr. Blyth has 

 frequently obtained it from the Calcutta market, and I procured it 

 occasionally in the Carnatic. I have no authentic record of its 

 occurrence out of India, but it is probable enough that it occurs in 

 Burmah, and may, perhaps, be the variety indicated by Horsfield 

 as Meliwis kembung. 



There are species of this genus in Africa and South America, one 

 indeed, D. viduata, is said to occur both in Africa and America ; 

 also in Australia, as well as in some of the Malayan islands, and 

 one species from Australia, has been separated as Leptotarsis 

 Et/toni, Gould. 



The birds of the next group have, like the Ducks, a brilliantly 

 colored speculum on the wing. They stand high on their legs, 

 and the down of the young is said to be pied. 

 Gen. Casarca, Bonap. 



Char. — Bill moderate, slightly raised at the base, depressed 

 anteriorly, of uniform width, nail large ; laminae slender, very ap- 

 parent ; wings moderately long, when closed reaching to the end of 

 the tail, which is short and slightly rounded, of fourteen or sixteen 

 feathers ; tarsus moderate, stout ; toes long ; hind toe lobed. 



These are Shieldrakes with some of the habits of Geese, grazing 

 in young cornfields. They nestle in deserted holes, also among 

 rocks and on cliffs, often far removed from water. 



11. Casarca rutila, Pallas. 



Anas apud Pallas— Blyth, Cat. 1768— Jerdon, Cat. 386— 

 Sykes, Cat. 215— Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 358 — A. rubra, 

 Gmeltn — Surkhab, H. of Falconers — Chahva, Chahvi, H. — 

 Chakra-bahz, Sansc. — Bapana chillmva, Tel. — ' Braminy Duck' of 



Europeans in India. 



The Buddy Shieldrake. 



Descr.— Male, forehead and cheeks pale ochreous-yellow or 

 ferruginous ; the region of the eyes, crown, and nape, greyish- 

 white ; the rest of the neck ochreous-yellow, tinged with orange, 

 surrounded by a glossy black collar nearly half an inch wide ; the 

 back and scapulars orange fulvous, some of the feathers edged 



