The Common Sheldrake 179 



THE COMMON SHELLDRAKE (TADORNA 

 BELONII). 



IN the full adult state of this bird, from the decided 

 markings of clear white, reddish-orange, and black, 

 it is one of our most beautiful and clean-looking 

 ducks. It is a truly maritime species, or a shore duck, 

 being seldom or never seen far inland, nor frequenting 

 fresh waters, except during the season of incubation. 



It breeds in the holes and crevices of rocks, and when 

 near a warren selects the rabbit burrows. When the 

 young are hatched, they are conducted to the sea, and 

 are sometimes carried in the bill of the parents to their 

 protecting element. If come upon when the young are 

 newly hatched, the old birds endeavour to lead off the 

 intruder by feigning lameness, like some of the rasores 

 and grallatores, but when they have reached a more 

 advanced state, unless a dog is present, they almost in- 

 variably fly straight away. 



Head and neck glossy blackish green ; lower part of 

 neck and upper breast pure white, succeeded by a broad 

 pectoral and narrow dorsal band of pale chestnut-red ; 

 centre of back, rump, tail, shoulders, lesser wing-covers, 

 sides* and thighs, pure white ; scapulars, quills, and tip 

 of the tail, black ; tertials white, outer webs broadly edged 

 with chestnut, separated from the white by a dark line 

 shading into both colours ; centre of the belly and running 

 through the chestnut band, black ; vent and under tail- 

 covers, pale yellowish red. 



The young birds have not the bright colouring or 

 decided markings of the old ; the chestnut colours are 

 more of a blackish-brown; and the white is clouded with 

 grey. The glossy black of the head and neck is also 

 wanting ; the fore part of the neck being white, the crown 

 and back of the neck blackish-brown. 



Of the Ruddy Shelldrake only a few specimens are 

 found in this country. 



