SHELDRAKE- 305 



Now that the brahminies are separated as a genus apart, the 

 sheldrakes form a peculiarly isolated type, represented only by the 

 present species, which ranges over the greater part of northern Europe 

 and Asia south of the Arctic Circle in summer and migrates to the 

 Mediterranean countries, northern India, 'China, and Japan in winter, 

 and by an allied Australian kind. 



In length a sheldrake measures about 26 inches, and weighs from 

 3|- to 4 lbs., so that it is one of the largest ducks. 



The name of the species refers to its parti-coloured plumage, and 

 has nothing to do with the word " shield." As regards its scientific titles, 

 the bird will be found designated in some works Tadovjia vulpanser^ and 

 in others as Tadonia iadorna. 



The sheldrake differs essentially from the shoveller in that it is a 

 bird of the seashore ; it is also a much more abundant, although local, 

 resident British species, occurring on most parts of the coasts, and 

 breeding in such localities as are specially suited to its somewhat 

 peculiar habits. The number of resident British birds is, however, 

 considerably reinforced during the winter-months by arrivals which 

 seek the hospitality of our coasts from the far north ; these migrants 

 frequently taking up their quarters in localities where the species is 

 unknown in summer. In all three divisions of the United Kingdom 

 the sheldrake nests locally; the breeding- range including the Outer 

 Hebrides, as well as a number of localities on the Irish coasts, where, 

 hov.'ever, the species is by no means common during the summer 

 months. In some places where these ducks habitually nest, especially 

 on the west coast of Scotland, it is the practice of the peasants to take 

 such clutches of eggs as they can find and set these under hens, when 

 large broods are frequently reared. 



On account of the facility with which the soil can be tunnelled, 

 sheldrakes generally select sandy shores for their summer resorts. In 

 such spots the nesting-burrow, which is reported in many instances to 

 be the work of the birds themselves, is frequently not less than four or 

 five feet in length, and may occasionally extend to as much as a dozen. 

 Where, however, empty rabbit-holes are ready to hand, as they are on 

 many dunes of sand on the coast thickly overgrown with sword-grass, 

 the birds are not slow to avail themselves of such free lodgings ; and 

 in at least one locality in Scotland sheldrake have been known to nest 

 in rabbit- burrows amid a clump of trees at a considerable distance 

 inland. Neither is the neighbourhood of .salt-water absolutely essential, 

 for these birds have been observed in Ireland breeding on the shores of 

 Lough Neagh, whose waters are fresh. In the absence of sand, peat, 



