1890] THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



175 



Passing on I came to some stumps of Ash trees that had been cut 

 down level with the ground some years ago and although they showed 

 externally no signs I determined to examine them. The first one I 

 found in a very soft spongy condition and after working a considerable 

 distance into it I came upon a Dorcus and I soon found that there 

 were many more. From this particular stump I took 11 spocimens 

 and from several others one or two. One in particular supplied me 

 3 Melanotus rufipes, as this was a species that I had never found before 

 in the district I was anxious to find more of it, but in this I was dis 

 appointed. I then returned home on the whole very well pleased with 

 the result of my afternoon ramble. 



Of course every heap of dung was full of numerous both specimens 

 and species of Aphodius, Cercyon, and Brachilytra, any number of 

 which could be easily picked up, but on this occasion as I merely 

 wanted to see what I could get using the trowel in search of the larger 

 beetles I passed them by. — Robert Gillo. 



NOTES ON A FEW INDIAN GAME BIRDS. 



By F. E. PRESCOTT-DECIE. 



THE RUDDY SI 1 1 ELD RAKE. 

 Casarca Rukila, Pallas. 



The Ruddy Shieldrake, or Braminy Duck as it is called in India, 

 is an occarional visitant to this country and as such has been figured 

 and described in books on British Birds so that a description wiil not 

 be necessary here. In India it is generaly distributed, and one writer 

 •even goes so far as to call it one of our commonest Indian ducks ! I am 

 bound to say that I found it scarce in Gujerat ; in fact I only saw the 

 species on occasion, when I noticed four paddling in a flooded field. 



This duck is said to frequent rivers for the most part, and not as a 

 rule to be found with other ducks. When it is found with other ducks 

 i;t is a great nuisance to the sportsman, as it is wary and warns the 

 other ducks of the approach of danger. The Hindoos have a legend, 

 .which is repeated in many Indian books, that two lovers were turned 

 into Braminy ducks, that ; they are compelled to pass the night on 

 opposite banks of the river, and that all night long each in its turn 



