OUR RARER BIRDS 



before the other wild-fowl with which it often associates in 

 the winter have taken alarm, the Sheldrakes are off to safer 

 quarters — even the young and inexperienced birds exhibiting 

 a shyness and wariness rarely indeed equalled by any other 

 wild bird. 



I will ask the reader to stray with me this wintery 

 morning on to the broad expanse of sand and mudflat, and 

 make the acquaintance of this charming bird — the hand- 

 somest of all our native Ducks. The ground affords no 

 cover — all is one far-expanding waste, smooth and even ; not 

 a rock in sight, or any hiding-place which might afford us 

 the unusual opportunity of approaching the birds and watch- 

 ing their movements closely. A small party of birds are 

 feeding close to the water's edge. Cast your field-glass in 

 their direction, and you can detect a few old Sheldrakes 

 amongst the flock. Observe how they wade into the 

 shallows and receding waves, exploring the mud with their 

 bills for food, or confining their search to the little pools 

 which the tide is leaving on every side. Kow you see them 

 turn over and reach down into the water, their tails high up 

 in the air like the ]\lallard, but they never dive for food. 

 The food of the Sheldrake is composed partly of vegetable 

 and partly of animal substances. It feeds on the stems and 

 leaves of various plants growing in and near the water, 

 especially grass. Insects are eaten, as well as small 

 crustaceans, worms, and even small fish. The bird is also 

 extremely partial to the various small mollusks with which 

 the sandy coasts abound. As I previously stated, the least 

 alarm sends the Sheldrakes hurrying away to more secluded 

 haunts. They pass in straight and regular flight over the 

 sea, perhaps not to alight again for miles ; and very beautiful 

 and conspicuous objects they look as their wings are beaten 

 up and down, not quickly as most other Ducks do, but in 

 slow regular order, more like a Heron. When on migration 



