134 BULLETIN 126, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



these latter from the sand by paddling or stamping with both its feet; this brings the 

 cockle quickly to the surface. I have often seen the tame birds of this species do 

 the same in the poultry yard when impatient for or waiting for their food." 



Witherby's Handbook (1920) gives the following list of food: 



Chiefly mollusca (Buccinum, Paludina, May, Skenea, Tellina, etc.) Crustacea 

 (shrimps, prawns, and small crabs), with a small quantity of vegetable matter (algae 

 and fragments of gramineae) and occasionally insects {Carabus and larvae of diptera.) 



Behavior. — Macgillivray (1852) writes of the habits of the sheld 

 duck, as follows: 



It seems to continue in pairs all the year round, although frequently in winter and 

 spring large flocks may be seen in which the families are intermingled. I have never 

 met with it inland, or in fresh water near the coast; but have seen it feeding in wet 

 pastures near the sea, although more frequently on wet sands, and am unable, from 

 my own observation, to say of what its food consists. Various authors allege that it 

 feeds on shellfish and marine plants; but this, judging from the structure of its bill 

 and its general appearance, I felt inclined to doubt until I met with Mr. Thompson's 

 statement. It walks with ease, in the manner of the wild geese, but mth quicker 

 steps, and flies with speed, in the manner of the mallard and other ducks, with 

 more rapid beats of the wings than the geese. In spring and the early part of 

 summer it has a habit of erecting itself, thrusting forward its neck, and shaking its 

 head, as if endeavouring to swallow or get rid of something too wide for its gullet; 

 but this appears to be merely an act of attention to the female. Being shy and 

 vigilant, and frequenting open places, it is not easily approached unless when 

 breeding. 



Mr. Cordeaux (1898) quotes Mr. G. H. Caton Haigh as saying: 



It is an extremely common bird on the coast of Merionethshire both as a winter 

 visitor and a breeding species. In the former season it appears in flocks about the 

 latter end of November, the numbers are very variable, but in severe weather is 

 sometimes present in immense quantities. At such times it frequents the open 

 sands, particularly in the estuaries, in company with widgeon and mallard. It is 

 (excepting geese) the most wary of all the fowl, and will frequently not allow a punt 

 to approach within 300 yards. In February another large increase takes place, when 

 the breeding birds return to their summer haunts, and from thence to September 

 they are one of the most numerous birds on the shore. From the middle of October 

 to the end of November the sheld duck is entirely absent from the coast. The first 

 clutches of young generally appear about the end of May or early in June, and 

 heavy weather at this time produces great mortality amongst them. The old remain 

 with the young for a very short time, and young broods are often to be seen alone, 

 or with 40 to 50 young and one pair of old birds. 



During winter the sheld duck feeds at night, but in summer it feeds at low water 

 both during the day and night. Large numbers of nonbreeding birds spend the 

 summer on the coast. They are very noisy birds, and the harsh quack or laugh of 

 the female, and whistle of the male, is heard both day and night in spring, and there 

 is much fighting amongst the males at this season. It is a poor diver, and rarely goes 

 under water, even when wounded. 



He writes further in regard to it : 



The sheld duck is heavier and stands higher than the mallard, and it is much 

 more a goose in manner than a duck, having an erect carriage and light active step, 

 instead of waddle; their flight too, more resembles that of geese and swans. The 



