206 J. Delacour—Notes on South American Geese , etc.


too spiteful and do not really bully other birds, with the exception

of the other Sheld-ducks, though they do not appear to mind Common

Sheld-ducks (Tadorna).


The Australian Sheld-duck (C. tadornoides) is perhaps the

handsomest of all. It has been imported now and then, but so far

never bred. I have now a fine acclimatized pair. They are very

pugnacious and must be kept separate.


The Paradise Sheld-duck ( C . variegata), from New Zealand,

is also a fine bird, especially the female with her pretty white head

and mahogany-red body. An extremely vicious species, to be kept

separate or with small Ducks that it does not mind. Before the War

I bred them in quite a small pen and it has been also kept thus in many

Zoos or collections. Now, although I have had three fine pairs for

several years kept in large enclosures, one even at liberty in a 50-acre

deer paddock, I never had an egg from them !


The Rajah Sheld-duck [Rajah rajah) is a peculiar and very

handsome bird, the rarest of all in captivity. I have had two males

in my garden for six years and found them altogether harmless and

hardy. One would have paired to an Orinoco Goose, while the other

one has mated to a Ruddy Sheld-duck and produced so far five hybrids

with her. They completely disregarded female Common Sheld-ducks.

These drakes have a soft whistling voice like the Common Sheld-duck.

My second male is now paired to a hybrid female of 1931, and I hope

to breed three-quarter blooded birds next year and so gradually come

back to pure Rajah, as I believe my birds are the only ones in confine¬

ment and hopes of getting new imported ones are remote. The hybrids

have the shape and size of the Rajah ; they are dark red in colour

with white neck and head, the latter having a light brown patch on

the top ; bill and feet greyish flesh colour.


The Common Sheld-duck ( Tadorna tadorna), of Europe and Asia,

is too common and well known to be dealt with in detail here. I always

keep two or three pairs on the lake and find them harmless, good

breeders and extremely ornamental.


Finally, I shall mention the lovely Pseudotadorna cornuta, from

Corea and Eastern Siberia, only known by three skin specimens, either

exceedingly rare or extinct, but kept in Japanese gardens until last

century.



