SHELDUCK 



SHELDRAKE COMMON SHELDRAKE BURROW DUCK 

 SKELGOOSE SKEELING GOOSE. 



PLATE CLXXXIX. FIGURE I. 



Tadorna cornuta, GMELIN. 



Tadorna vulpanser, .... MACGILLIVRAY. 

 Anas tadorna, ..... LINNJEUS. 



TH E Sheldrake builds in rabbit - burrows and other 

 hollows in the earth, often as much as ten or twelve 

 feet from the entrance ; also in holes in rocks. Some down 

 plucked from their own breasts is the lining with which 

 the nest is fitted, the remainder being dry grass. 



The eggs are seven to twelve, or even more, it is said, 

 in number ; but these, in such cases, may possibly have 

 been the produce of two birds. They are nearly perfectly 

 white, having only a very faint creamy tinge, and are 

 smooth and shining. 



The duck sits about twenty-six to thirty days, her mate 

 keeping watch hard by, but not taking her place even while 

 she seeks her food. 



The young, when hatched, are either carried by their 

 parents in their bills to the water, or soon make their way 

 thither themselves. They hide away at the approach of 

 danger; the old birds then flying off. 



VOL. in. L 



