THE COMMON SHEILDRAKE, 



Tadorna JBelwiii. 



PLATE II. 



Anas tadorna, lam, &c. Tadorna vulpanser, Fh* 

 <&c. Canard tadorne, Temm. Sheildrake or 

 Sheildrake of British authors. 



WE have preferred the specific name of" Belonii 1 ' for 

 the Sheildrake to that of " Vulpanser," lest it snoiuii 

 mislead, it being apparent that that name was an- 

 ciently applied to the Egyptian goose previously 

 described. In the full adult state of this bird, from 

 the decided markings of clear white, reddish orange, 

 and black, it is one of our most beautiful and clean- 

 looking ducks. It is, we believe, a truly maritime 

 species, or a shore duck, being seldom or never seen 

 far inland, nor frequenting fresh waters, except during 

 the season of incubation. At that season it is 

 common, and frequents most of the British shores, 

 where there is an extent of flat common or warren, 

 or undulating land free from cover, and where the 

 shore in addition is low and sandy. These are its 

 frequent haunts, but we have met with it also where 

 the sandy shore had a precipitous boundary covered 



