Ducks
The Nile valley was home to many kinds of duck: the Egyptian goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus, a duck despite its English name) and the goose-like Ruddy shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea), the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), the mostly greyish gadwall (Anas strepera), the widgeon (Anas penelope), the teal (Anas crecca), the Tufted duck (Aythya fuligula), the porchard (Aythya ferina), the Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca) and the pintail (Anas acuta). Among these the pintail was most often kept.Many ducks remained wild and were a favourite prey for hunters in the Delta. They were often flushed out of their hiding places by dogs or civets. Throw sticks were used to bring them down. Netting was also popular.
