SHELDRAKE 



303 



conspicuous central white star. Althougli one American ornithologist 

 writes favourably of the shoveller as a bird for the table, the general 

 opinion, especially in India, is that in this respect the species is the 

 very worst of all the duck-tribe. 



Sheldrake ^^ regards the colouring of the plumage the shel- 

 (Tadorna cornuta) ^^^"'^'^^ presents us with a species which has gone 

 a step farther than the mallard in specialisation, 

 for not only does the drake retain its breeding-plumage throughout the 

 year, but the duck has acquired a similar type of colouring, although 

 slightly duller in tone. In the case of the female the reason for this 



SHELDKAKK (MALE). 



specialised feature is not far to seek, for, as indicated by her name 

 of " burrow-duck," she lays her eggs deep down in a tunnel in the 

 ground, and therefore has no need of a protective resemblance in her 

 plumage to her surroundings. Hence, what is commonly known as 

 sexual selection has been allowed full play, with the result that the 

 female sheldrake has acquired a plumage only a little inferior in 

 gorgeousness to that of her lord. As regards the total loss of the 

 original dull non-breeding dress of the duck-tribe by the male shel- 

 drake, it appears that the bird does not shed all its flight-feathers 

 simultaneously,^ and consequently does not require that protective t}'pe 

 of colouring so essential to the mallard during the time that it is 

 deprived of the power of flight. It may be added that the colouring 



1 See a letter in the Field o{ December 16, 1905. 



