300 A HAND-BOOK OF THE MANAGEMENT OF ANIMALS 



(288) THE BEAHMINY DUCK. 

 (TADORNA CASABCA— (Linn.) ) 

 Hindi — Surkhab. Bengali — Chaka-chaki. Boogri in Eastern Bengal. 

 In captivity the seasonal black collar of the neck sometimes dis- 

 appears permanently, or only a trace becomes visible at the breeding 

 season. 



Sab. — Central Asia, Persia, Mesopotama, Asia Minor, the entire 

 northern portions of Africa, and India, in many parts of which they are 

 most abundant during the cold weather. 



Length of life in captivity. 



It has never done well in this garden, none having yet lived for 

 more than four years. 



(289) THE COMMON SHELDBAKE. 



(TADOENA VULPEtfSER— {Fleming^ ) 

 Hindi — Shah-chakwa, Sufaid-mrkhab. 



Description. — Head and neck black with greenish reflexions; 

 scapulars and primaries black ; greater coverts bronze green ; outer webs 

 of some of the secondaries orange brown ; the rest of the plumage 

 white ; a broad band of ferruginous brown encircles the breast, shoulders, 

 and upper back ; bill red ; irides brown ; legs fleshy red. The colouring 

 of the female is much subdued, and it also wants the pectoral band. 



Hab. — Found throughout Europe, the greater part of Asia, and 

 Northern Africa. In India, nowhere very common and quite unknown 

 in the south. The specimens obtained for this garden were all obtained 

 from the Monghyr district. 



There is no record of its length of life in captivity. 



(290) THE WILD DUCK. 



(ANAS BOSCAS— Linn.) 

 Hindi — Nilsir. 



Descrijjtion.—He&d and neck emerald green, very deep or nearly 

 black about the forehead ; a white collar round the neck ; chest dark 

 chestnut ; abdomen and sides greyish white, with finely undulated 

 brown lines ; an elongated patch of blue on the wings ; the central 

 feathers of the tail curled upwards ; bill pale greenish yellow; legs orange. 

 The female is smaller than the male, and of a brown colour oi different 

 shades. 



The white collar of the neck is sometimes very indistinct behind. 



JLab. — Europe and Asia. Found throughout the year in Kashmir, 

 but it is a cold weather visitant to other parts of India, where it is 

 generally common in the North- West. 



