THE SHELD-DUCKS. 



The Sheld-Ducks, Sheldrakes, Shiel-ducks 

 or Shieldrakes, as they are variously 

 termed, are birds of considerable size. 

 The sexes are closely alike in colour, and 

 they have only the ordinary autumn moult. 

 They have rather long legs, and are able 

 to walk fairly well. The feathers of 

 the crown of the head are somewhat 

 lengthened. 



Of the six species of Sheld-Ducks 

 known, four are restricted to areas within 

 which they are resident. The other two 

 are seasonal visitors to India, but are 

 resident in many parts of their wide range. 

 The Sheld-Ducks may therefore be con- 

 sidered a family of Ducks in which the 

 migratory instinct is disappearing. The 

 primaries of all the species of this group 

 are black. 



The two Indian Sheld-Ducks differ 

 from each other in several respects. In 

 the Common Sheld-Duck {Tadorna), the 

 upper outline of the bill is very concave ; 



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