File:Indian sporting birds (1915) (14727569426).jpg

Identifier: indiansportingbi00finn (find matches)
Title: Indian sporting birds
Year: 1915 (1910s)
Authors: Finn, Frank, 1868-1932 Hume, Allan Octavian, 1829-1912 Marshall, Charles Henry Tilson, 1841-
Subjects: Birds -- India Game and game-birds -- India
Publisher: London : Francis Edwards
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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mandarin, with all his pluck andbounce, shows by bis manner that he knows he is taking risksin snatching the bread from the mouth of the ruddy sheldrake. In Indian limits this bird has only been found breeding ata high elevation in the Himalayas, 10,000 feet and upwards ;the nests are in holes in cliffs, and several are found in the samequarter. The eggs are eight in number as a rule, and creamy-white ; the ducklings mostly sooty-black above and white below ;they will dive for food while in the down, although their parentsare strictly surface-feeders. The ruddy sheldrake also breedsfrom Central Asia west, all along the Mediterranean, and visitsChina as well as India in winter. In Northern Burma it is verycommon, and known SLsHintJia. The Hindustani name Chakwa(with the feminine form Chakwi) is not the only one, Surkhabbeing also used ; Nir-batha or -koli is the name in South India,Mungh in Sind, Bugri in Bengal, the Telugu name is BapanaChilhiica, and the Marathi Sarza or Chakraicak.
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LJ < Q- < cro Q / •*y <- COMMON SHELDEAKE 53 Commorv Sheldrake. Tadorna cornuta. Shah-Chakwa, Hindustani. Tlie real original or typical sheldrake, a well-known sea-coast bird at home, and the only surface-feeding duck which isa sea-bird anywhere, is a rather rare winter bird only in India,being only at all common in Sind, where it is called Niruji, andnot going far south anywhere, though it ranges east to UpperBurma. The Hindustani names of Safaid Surkhab and ChandiHans, however, which are in use as well as that given above,show that the natives know the bird well, and it is one that onceseen is never forgotten—its predominant white colour, indicatedby its native names, and set off by a black head and wing-tips,chestnut breast-band joining on the shoulders, and scarlet bill,are quite unique and unmistakable. Even the yearlings, inwhich there is no chestnut tint, and whose beaks are merelyflesh-colour like the feet, are quite unlike any other duck. Insize this bird is a li

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