The Sheld-Ducks. 89 



computation not less than twenty thousand 

 minute mollusca." 



The Common Sheld-Duck lays from 

 April to the beginning of June. The eggs 

 number from seven to twelve, and 

 occasionally as many as sixteen. They 

 are smooth and have little gloss. In 

 colour they are creamy white or very pale 

 yellowish white. They measure from 

 2*5 to 275 in length and from i"g to 2 in 

 breadth. The down, taken from the- nest, 

 is of a beautiful lavender-grey colour. 



The adult male has the whole head 

 and neck glossy black. The upper part 

 of the mantle and breast is white, form- 

 ing a broad collar. The lower part of 

 the mantle and breast is rich chestnut, 

 forming a broad band below the white 

 collar. A black band occupies the middle 

 of the chestnut breast, and widens into 

 a broad patch which covers the central 

 portion of the abdomen. The under tail- 

 coverts are pale chestnut. The remainder 

 of the lower plumage, the axillaries and 

 the under wing-coverts, are white. The 

 whole of the upper wing-coverts, the 

 inner scapulars, the back, the rump, and 

 the upper tail-coverts are white, frequently 

 tinged with pale buff. The outer scapu- 

 lars are deep black. The tail is white. 



