152 



AQUATIC FOWT, 



THE BHEILDBAKE. 



are white; the nearest scapulars black, the others white; the 

 greater quill feathers are black ; the exterior webs of the next 

 are a fine green, and those of the three succeeding orange ; the 

 coverts of the tail are white ; the tail itself of the same colour, 

 and except the two outmost feathers, tipt with black ; the belly 

 white, divided lengthways by a black line ; the legs of a pale 

 flesh-colour. They are natives of northern Europe and Asia, and 

 are found in Japan. It may be classed with the indigenous birds 

 of Great Britain, as it breeds on various parts of our coast, and 

 may be seen at all seasons of the year, but usually near the sea, 

 and more numerous in winter. This species selects rabbit-warrens 

 along the coast, as its breeding place, and, taking up a deserted 

 burrow, there makes a nest of dried grass, lined with soft down 

 plucked from its own breast. The nest is sometimes ten or 

 twelve feet from the entrance ; but where there are no burrows 

 accessible, it is placed in a fissure of a rock or bank ; the eggs 

 are ten or twelve in number, and of a pure white. During the 

 period of incubation (thirty days) the male keeps watch, and 

 takes the place of the female, when she leaves the nest for food, 

 and the young are sometimes carried in the bill of the parent, to 

 the sea. They arrive at their usual haunts about the beginning 

 of March ; after the young become fledged, they keep to the 



