THE COMMON SHELDEAICE. 



491 



Xunierous attempts have been made to familiarize it with 

 inland fresh-water haunts to which some other species 

 readily take, but they have rarely succeeded, while to 

 induce it to breed at a distance fi^om its seaside home has 

 proved j^et more difficult. 



THE COMMON SHELDRAKE. 



It differs from the majority of the Duck tribe in re- 

 maining on the coast of Britain throughout the year. In 

 South Wales, for example, it is seen in winter and early 

 spring, but about the breeding season it disappears for 

 a few weeks. During this interval it is employed in 



