BURROW SHIELDUCK. 27 



twelve, are of an oval form, rather pointed at one end, smooth, 

 glossy, and thin-shelled, of a white colour, slightly tinged 

 witli reddish ; their length from two inches and eleven- 

 twelfths to two inches and eight-twelfths, and their breadth 

 an inch and ten or eleven-twelfths. The male continues in 

 the neighbourhood of the nest during incubation, and is said 

 occasionally to take the place of the female. The young 

 presently betake themselves to the sea, under the guidance 

 of both their parents, who are remarkably attentive to them, 

 and endeavour to screen them from danger by drawing the 

 attention of their pursuers toward themselves, in the manner 

 employed by many other birds. 



This species, although maritime, being capable of living 

 in a semi-domesticated state on fresh-water ponds, where it is 

 highly ornamental, the eggs are sometimes taken and placed 

 under a hen. The young thus obtained feed on seeds, grass, 

 and the ordinary substances given to domestic poultry ; but 

 are apt to ramble, and at length to fly away. These domesti- 

 cated birds very seldom breed. Montagu states that a 

 nobleman informed him, " he had one instance only in several 

 years, although they had the range of a very extensive canal," 

 and Mr. Selby mentions the occurrence of another in his 

 neighbourhood. On the other hand, it has been known, 

 according to the former of these naturalists, " to breed with 

 the common Duck, in Lord Stanley's menagerie." 



It is said to be generally dispersed over the maritime 

 districts of Europe, but more especially the northern and 

 western- 



Young, — When about a week old, the bill is blackish- 

 brown, with the lower mandible yelloAvish, and the unguis 

 reddish-yellow. The feet brownish-green, the claws brown 

 at the base, whitish toward the end. The doAvn is moderately 

 long, rather dense, stiffish ; the general colour white ; the 

 top of the head, a line down the back of the neck, the upper 

 part of the back, the proximal part of the wings, the middle 

 of the back down to the tail, and a spot above the thigh on 

 each side, together with a small spot on the outer part of the 

 tibia near the bare portion, blackish-brown. 



