green patch on the cheek, make up an unforgetable scheme of 
coloration. The female is very soberly clad, being of a dark 
brown, barred with black. A further, and valuable, identification 
mark is furnished by her beak, which, like that of her lord, seems 
unusually long, owing to the sloping forehead. The flight is slow 
and close down to the water. 
The sheld-duck is another strikingly coloured species that is 
commonly seen on sandy shores and estuaries. There can be no 
mistaking it. On the wing it has a conspicuously pied appearance, 
while the flight seems slow and rather laboured. Seen at rest, 
and fairly near, a broad chestnut band across the breast, and a 
black band down its middle will be noticed, while the black head 
and neck are admirably contrasted with a coral red beak. The 
legs are pale pink. In winter, on parts of the east coast, they 
sometimes form flocks of several hundreds. The heavy-bodied, 
black ducks, one often sees scurrying along, close to the water, 
sometimes in immense flocks, are common scoters. The male is 
entirely black, with an apricot yellow beak-patch, the female is a 
dark brown, with grey cheeks. . 
Though the duck-tribe is represented by a considerable 
number of species, the number likely to be seen by the casual 
wanderer is very few; for these birds mostly keep well under 
cover during the day. In addition to the three species just 
described there are at least two others which are not infrequently 
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