92 BRITISH NESTING BIRDS 



Eggs. — One. White; of fine texture; about 2 J by i| inches. 



Food. — Various kinds of marine creatures. 



Voice. — Call, " kitty-coo-roo; " also " crew, cockathondon." 



Chief Features. — Belongs to the Petrel family, and is a rare species. 

 It keeps to the broad expanse of ocean, and only comes to land 

 to breed. Nocturnal in habits. The name Shearwater is 

 derived from the bird's habit of gliding along just above the 

 surface of the sea. 



Plumage. — Bill blackish; yellowish flesh-coloured legs and feet; 

 sooty-black crown, nape, and upper parts; white under parts; 

 greyish-brown on sides of neck. Length. — Fifteen inches. 



SHELDRAKE, COMMON (Tadoma cornuta) 



Local Names. — Bargander, Bargoose, Bay Duck, Burrow Duck, 

 Common Shieldrake, Pirenet, Scale Drake, Shelldrake, Shell- 

 duck, Shieldrake, Skeel-duck, Skeeling Goose, Skelgoose, Sly 

 Goose. 



Haunt. — Sand dunes near the sea, also the seashore, saltings, etc. 



Nesting Period. — April to June. 



Site of Nest. — Burrows in the sand, not made as a rule by the bird. 



Materials Used. — Sedge or grass, dry bents, a little moss, lined with 

 soft down from the bird's own body. 



Eggs. — Eight to Twelve, or more. White; about 2\ by 2 inches. 



Food. — Molluscs, crustaceans, marine plants, corn, and seeds. 



Voice. — Call of male, a deep " korr, korr." Female, a loud " quack." 



Chief Features. — One of our most handsome British Ducks. Obtains 

 its food by dabbling in shallow water or along the shore; it 

 does not dive. A fine swimmer, and possesses a graceful 

 attitude on land. Often uses the burrow of a rabbit as a 

 suitable nesting site. 



Plumage. — The male has a knob at the base of the bill which is 

 lacking in the female, and this and the beak are bright red ; dark 

 glossy green on head and upper neck, with a collar of white, 

 followed by a band of chestnut; white on wing-coverts; green 

 speculum; black on scapulars, portion of secondaries, and 

 primaries; white on rump, upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers, 

 with black tips on the latter; dark brown on centre of breast 

 and belly, white on remaining under parts; pink legs and feet. 

 Female duller than her mate. Length. — Twenty-six inches. 



SHOVELER {Spatula dypeata) 



Local Names. — Blue-Winged Shoveler, Blue-Winged Stint, Broad 

 Bill, Broad-Billed Duck, Common Shoveler, Kertlutock, Kirk- 

 tullock, Scoppcr-Bill, Shovel-Bill, Spoon-Bill, White Spoon-Bill. 



