104 A HANDBOOK OF EUROPEAN BIRDS. 
tion of upper mandible, wit e loral region, lemon-yellow ; 
rest of bill (including nostrils) Black ; irides brown ; legs and feet 
black. Length 46 to 50 inches ; culmen 3°4 ; wimg IQ to 21; 
tail 7 ; tarsus 3°8. 
Immature Birds: Plumage greyish-brown, their smaller 
size at once distinguishing them from the young of other spe- 
cies. 
Distribution: Found in most of Palearctic region except 
in Iceland, but more abundantly so in the eastern portion. 
Probably does not breed west of the Petchora Valley. 
Habitat: Closely resembles that of other Swans. 
Genus TADORNA. 
SHELDRAKE. 
Tadorna cornuta (Gwel.). 
Adult Male: Head, front part.of.mneck and scapulars 
glossy black ; chest, basal portion of neck, centre of cack, tail 
and smaller wing-coverts zw/ite; a broad ring of chestnut round 
upper part of body ; primaries and tips of rectrices black ; outer 
webs of secondaries very metallic-green ; centre of chest, dveast¢ 
and abdomen é/ack; bill and legs bright orange; irides 
brown. Length 25 to#26 inches; culmen 2°15; wing 13 to 
15, talles setarsus 2: 
Adult Female: Resembles the male but measures rather 
less. 
Immature Birds: Differ from adults in having a patch 
on forehead white, the black parts browner, and the chestnut 
ring round upper part of body not so broad or dark ; centre of 
breast and abdomen brown instead of black. 
Young in first plumage: May be readily distinguished 
by the feathers at base of bill, a streak on throat and under 
parts being white with a few brown tips to some of the side- 
feathers. 
Distribution: Inhabits the coasts of Northern-central and 
Southern Europe, the latter chiefly in winter only. Breeds in 
the Black Sea and Caspian regions. Breeds also on high 
Central Asiatic lakes, occurring as far east as Japan. 
Habitat: The sea coast or salt lagoons. 
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