THE DUCK FAMILY. 285 



are the Anatidce, or Ducks and Geese; a family pecu- 

 liarly characteristic of high latitudes, from which vast 

 flocks annually migrate southwards, visiting our shores 

 in the winter months. Some remain with us all the 

 year, some only in the breeding-season, and others rarely 

 show themselves, except when driven here, as into a har- 

 bour of refuge in a severe season. The habits of many 

 of this family are more lacustrine than littoral. They 

 prefer inland pieces of water, fens, &c., nestling among 

 the tall reeds and willows of the margin. But some are 

 strictly littoral in their habits. One of the commonest 

 of the latter is the Shell-drake (Tadorna milpanser), a 

 strikingly handsome species, with glossy-green head and 

 neck, a white collar, and a body diversified with patches 

 of chestnut, white and black ; bright-red bill and flesh- 

 coloured legs. The head is shorter and rounder than in 

 the common Duck, and the bill is remarkable for a pro- 

 minence above, and a strong short hook at the extre- 

 mity. The Shell-drake frequents sandy places near the 

 coast, building in old rabbit-holes, and making its nest 

 of grass, often ten or twelve feet distant from the en- 

 trance. This habit has in some places obtained for them 

 the local name of Burrow-duck. Their commoner name 

 is perhaps given from their being accustomed to feed 

 on small mussels or other shell-fish ; or, as Mr. Yarrell 

 suggests, perhaps a corruption of shield-drake, because 

 this bird is frequently introduced into heraldry. Very 

 different in its colour, but somewhat similar in form, is 

 the Scoter (Oidemia nigra), a common winter visitant. 

 This bird has a uniformly black plumage, with black 



