70 



THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD 



The nest is composed externallj- of seaweed, and lined with down, which is plucked by 

 the female from her breast as incubation proceeds, till eventually if completely conceals the 

 eggs. Each nest yields about one-sixth of a pound, and is worth, on the spot, from twelve to 

 fifteen shillings a pound. 



The Pochards, Scaups, Goluen-EVES, and Scoters are relatives of the eider-duck; 

 but since all resemble the latter in their general mode of life, we need not consider 

 them here. 



The Merg.\NSERS and Smews, to which reference has been made, differ markedly from all 

 the ducks so far considered in the peculiar formation of the bill, which is relatively long and 

 narrow, with its edges armed with sharp, tooth-like processes projecting backwards towards the 

 back of the mouth. These processes are really onl)- horny spines, and have no relation to 



rti(.to by the Duchess of Bedford'] 



[U^obu-n Ahb!\ 



CAPE BARRFN (,,uosE 

 Thii bird is a nati've of South-east Australia and Tasmania, and remarkable ji,r its short beak 



teeth, although they are used, as teeth would be, for holding slippery prey, such as fish, which 

 form the greater part of the diet of these birds. 



So far, in all the ducks which we have considered, the male differs conspicuously from the 

 female in plumage ; but in the forms we are now about to describe both sexes are coloured alilce. 



The first is the CoMMox SHELDRAKE, which seems to lie somewhere on the borderland 

 between the Ducks and the Geese. It is a very beautiful bird, conspicuousl\- marked with 

 broad bands of orange-chestnut, white, and black. The beak being coral red in colour, and 

 further ornamented by a peculiar fleshy knob at its base, serves to set off the glossy bottle- 

 green colour of the head and neclc. As appears to be invariably the case where both sexes 

 are coloured alike, the female builds her nest in a hole, generally a rabbit-burrow, whilst 

 the young have a distinct livery, duller in tone than that of the parent. The female 

 sheldrake breeds in Britain, and may be frequently seen at sea fl>"ing in small parties, which 

 have been likened to a flock of butterflies. 



