RUDDY SHIELDRAKE. 239 



broad at their end, semicircular, and tipped with a lighter 

 colour, which form semicircular lines all over the bodjf. 

 The wing-coverts are white, which forms a broad space 

 on the wing ; below this the secondary quills are green, 

 forming a speculum ; the greater quills brown, darker on 

 the edges, which has occasioned them to be described as 

 black ; the same applies to the tail and back, which is 

 nearly covered by the scapulars, both of which are dark 

 brown, with a greenish tinge. The legs are dark co- 

 loured ; the toes largely webbed, and the webs black. At 

 the bend of the wing is a blunt knob. Beneath, on the 

 sides of the vent, are the rudiments of a bar of mottled 

 feathers ; and the feathers of the thighs, and some of the 

 vent feathers, are lighter than those of the rest of the 

 body." 



The male is distinguished from the female in having a 

 black collar round the neck, from which circumstance it 

 has been called the Collared Duck ; it has also been called 

 the Ruddy Goose. 



Bewick has figured the female ; I have therefore pur- 

 posely given the figure of a male. 



This species is very rarely found at sea. 



