Sheld-Ducks, and their Allies



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ordinary female with him but so far they have not bred. This Goose

crosses easily with Magellans, etc., and Sheld-ducks. A hybrid between

this species and the Orinoco Goose was bred in the London Zoo some

years ago.


The Sheld-ducks ( Casarca ) are shorter in their legs and both

sexes have resounding—although different—voices. Their bills are

also flatter and slightly turned up at the tip. They are extremely

spiteful among themselves and to small Geese, and it is better to keep

each pair separate or associated only with smaller Ducks of which

they take no notice, or much stronger birds such as Swans. As far

as my experience goes, they breed much better when they enjoy semi¬

liberty in a large garden or park with plenty of water, although they

have often been bred in small enclosures. The young ones are reared

like Geese, but require rather more animal food. But both adult

and young need much grass and other green food.


The Buddy Sheld-duck ( C.ferruginea ), which is found throughout

the south and east of Europe, North Africa, and Asia, is by no means

rare in captivity and breeds freely. I have reared young years ago,

but now only keep one female paired to a Bajah Sheld-duck and

producing every season interesting hybrids.


The South African Sheld-duck (C. cana) is a little smaller,

much prettier and rarer than the Buddy. Up to five years ago they

were extremely rare in Europe, when some pairs were imported to

Holland and England. I then procured several but lost some and

in 1930 was left with one drake and two ducks. The Berlin Zoo,

where some had been reared that same year (as well as at St. James

Park), sent me one drake as an exchange ; paired to an imported

female and let out on the lake, they produced eight youngsters in

April, 1931, six of which were reared to maturity under a hen. It is

remarkable that this drake has bred at less than a year old. This

year six eggs were first laid in March out of which three young were

reared, and again eight in April, which we mistook for Common Sheld-

duck’s, and three more were bred. Pairs put in large enclosures, with

good-sized sections of the river flowing through, did not nest. Up

to recent years this species was considered as impossible to breed in

captivity ; I believe it requires plenty of space. These birds are not



