THE SHELDRAKE 313 



nests of those Ducks breeding in holes and where it is not 

 required, seems to me to point to the common origin of this 

 group of birds, the habit being inherited and retained in all 

 cases, even though, from a variety of causes, as, for instance, 

 with the Sheldrake, it has long ceased to be of any service. 

 The Sheldrake, impelled by the subtle laws of inheritance, 

 covers its eggs when it leaves them, simply because it was the 

 habit of its ancestors to do so — a habit which has been 

 transmitted to posterity, in some cases uselessly, as the 

 present sj^ecies beyond all doubt demonstrates. 



The Sheldrake only rears one brood in the year, and the 

 young ducklings leave the nesting-hole soon after they are 

 hatched. Amusing little creatures they are, wonderfully 

 quick in all their movements; and should you chance to 

 suddenly disturb a brood, they instantly scatter like young 

 Lapwings, and crouch to the ground. Here, motionless as 

 marble, their downy covering so closely harmonises with the 

 sandy w^astes as to hide them effectually from view. The 

 young birds feed almost exclusively on sand-hoppers, which 

 they are able to catch for themselves very adroitly, soon after 

 they leave the shell. You rarely indeed observe the Shel- 

 drake far from the sea. It may sometimes wander to the 

 green grassy banks amongst the sand-hills, or even to the 

 open pastures at the top of the dunes, but the w^ater and the 

 beach is its true element. Before the young birds can fly 

 the brood and their parents may be observed far out at sea, 

 coming to the land to feed, but not always to sleep. 



