THE BIRDS OF MESOPOTAMIA. 
653 
the country, nor is it likel_y to do so, as its known southern limit of breeding 
range lies much further north. It is very common in winter and large numbers 
are brought into Amara market alive. 
Five specimens examined: Samarra, 22-12-17 (two) (C. R.P.), Mesopotamia 
and (Bagnel), Amara (two) (P. A. B.) . 
198. Lesser White=fronted Goose. Anser erythropus. 
Anser erythropus (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 123, 1758— Sweden). 
Apparently not at all common ; Buxton obtained one out of a small party on 
some wet irrigated plough land at Amara on November 28th and thought he saw 
others at different times. Thornhill recorded a flock of five at Wadi on March 
20th ; Pitman saw a flock at Suweikiyeh marsh on December 3rd. Zarudny 
records it in winter and he also records Anser arvensis as a rare winter visitor ; 
we have no records of any Bean Goose and Buxton failed to meet with it 
among great numbers of geese in the Amara bazaar. 
Pitman seems pretty sure that he saw the Red-breasted Goose on several 
occasions round Kut, Kurna and Qalet SaJeli in winter ; Thornhill records that 
he heard of vague statements regarding geese which seemed suggestive of this 
species, so awaiting further evidence I do not definitely include it ; it is 
abundant on the south Caspian coast in winter and so might easily occur in 
Mesopotamia. 
199. Mute Swan. Cygnus olor. 
Cygnus olor (Gm.) (S 3 'st. Nat. pt. 2, 1789, p. 501 — -Russia). 
Swans are evidently rather rare winter visitors to Mesopotamia. Butler has 
recorded (S. F., 7, p. 105) that he learnt through the telegraph people at Fao that 
swans occasionally occur at the head of the Persian Gulf and mouth of the 
Euphrates. 
In the winter of 1916 a herd frequented the Suweikiyeh marshes, as recorded 
by Thornhill and others ; but what species of swan it is that visits the country 
was unknown until Robinson secured an adult female at Kut on January 8th, 
1918, and sent it to the Bombay Museum ; it turned out to be of the above 
species. 
200. Common Shelduck. Tadorna tadorna. 
Tadorna tadorna (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. x, p. 122, 1758 — Sweden). 
In lower Mesopotamia this species is a fairly common winter visitor to the 
shallower floods and is, as elsewhere, extremely wary ; round Baghdad however 
and perhaps elsewhere it must breed, as Pitman on July 22nd at L. Akkarkuf 
saw adults with young ones, and caught and reared four of the latter ; there are 
several other records which shew that some, at all events, are to be met with at 
a time when they might be supposed to be breeding ; thus Logan Home records 
seeing pairs in May, as also did Pitman at Nukta on May 28th, and Thornhill 
recorded seeing at pair at Hanna on July 11th ; one was seen at Azizieh on June 
18th. 
Four specimens examined : Amara (P. A. B.), Mesopotamia (Macdonald) 
Busra (Wernicke) Juv. L. Akkarkuf, 15-8-17 (C. R. P.). 
201. Ruddy Shelduck. Tadorna casarca. 
Tadorna casarca (L.) (Syst. Nat. Ed. 12, 3, App. Anim., p. 224, 1768— 
Astrachan). 
On the Adhaim river and on the Tigris north of this to Tekrit and probably 
beyond, and also round Bund-i-kir in the Karun district, the Brahminy duck is 
resident and breeds ; to the rest of Mesopotamia it is a moderately common 
winter visitor. Pitman says that at Istabulat it breeds in ruins, cliffs, marl 
