420 COMMON SHELD-DUCK. 



to the interior of Europe and the basin of the Mediterranean it is 

 chiefly a migrant or winter-visitor. It is, however, resident in the 

 basins of the Black and Caspian Seas, and is found on the salt-lakes of 

 the temperate — or the elevated — districts of Asia, as far east as Japan ; 

 while its winter-range extends southward to the tropic of Cancer. 



The nest, made of grass or leaves, and profusely lined with down, 

 is placed at distances varying from a few feet to three or four yards 

 up a rabbit-burrow — whence the name " Burrow-Duck," or at the 

 end of a tunnel (made by the bird) which occasionally forms a 

 nearly complete circle. Sometimes it is in holes in bridges, or 

 among rocks near high-water mark, and, exceptionally, in a dense 

 covert of furze. The 7-12 eggs, laid in May, are of a smooth 

 creamy-white, and measure about 275 by 1*9 in. In the Frisian 

 Islands and some parts of Denmark artificial burrows are made by 

 the natives, the eggs being taken up to June iSth, after which the 

 birds are allowed to sit. Incubation lasts from twenty-eight to 

 thirty days, and when the young are hatched they follow their 

 parents, being sometimes carried by the female on her back to the 

 water. The feeding-grounds are mussel-scalps and sandy shores, on 

 which the bird obtains minute molluscs, crustaceans, and marine 

 insects, with sea-weed ; but in captivity grain, soaked bread, and 

 vegetables are eaten. The note of the male is a shrill whistle; 

 but the female, which is far more noisy, utters a harsh bark, 

 sometimes followed by several distinct quacks. The flesh is dark in 

 colour, and unpleasant in smell and flavour. In confinement the 

 natural preferences of this species must be consulted, or else it will 

 not breed readily. The prefix " Sheld " is given by Ray (1674) as an 

 East Anglian equivalent for particoloured. 



The adult male in spring has the beak and basal knob bright red ; 

 head and upper neck dark glossy-green, followed by a white collar, 

 below which is a rich chestnut band ; wing-coverts white ; wing-spot 

 on the outer webs of the secondaries green ; scapulars and primaries 

 nearly black ; rump and tail-feathers white, the latter tipped with 

 black ; a dark brown line down the middle of the breast and belly, 

 the rest of the under parts white; legs and toes, with the webs, flesh- 

 pink. Length 25 in. ; wing 13 in. The female is rather smaller, 

 duller in colour, and has no knob at the base of the bill. The 

 young has the head and neck blackish; face, wing-coverts and 

 all the under parts white ; inner secondaries white, edged with 

 chestnut, and with little green on the speculum ; beak flesh-colour ; 

 legs and feet livid lead-colour. The bird does not breed till it is 

 nearly two years old. 



