253 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



and to see Ducks at their best, they must be observed in 

 February and March, so that it would seem that they take 

 nearly six months to attain their perfect plumage, after the 

 change into their dull summer dress." 



THE SHELD-DUCKS. GENUS TADORNA. 



Tadojna, Fleming, Phil. Zool. ii. p. 260 (1822). 



Type, T. tadorna (L.). 



The Sheld-Ducks of which the beautiful species figured in 

 the accompanying plate is the typical representative have the 

 tarsus scutellated in front, a conspicuous wing-speculum, and 

 the outer web of the innermost secondaries chestnut. On 

 the edge of the bill the lamellse are prominent, and are more 

 developed towards the tip of the upper mandible. The bill 

 widens out towards the tip, and is broader at the end than at 

 the base, and on the lower mandible the lamellae do not pro- 

 ject outwardly. The sexes are alike in plumage, and the feet 

 are flesh-coloured. These are the characters of the genus 

 Tadorna, according to Count Salvador!, and they are ample for 

 its definition, as the two species of which it consists are both 

 remarkable for their coloration, and are easily recognisable. 

 Besides Tadorna tadorna, the European species, there is but 

 one other, T. radjah, of the Malayan Archipelago. 



I. THE COMMON SHELD-DUCK. TADORNA TADORNA. 



Anas tadorna, Linn. S. N. i. p. 195 (1766). 



Tadorna vulpanser, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 22 (1852). 



Tadorna cornuta, Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 451, pi. 420 (1878); 



B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 122 (1883) ; Saunders, ed. Yarr. 



Br. B. iv. p. 352 (1885); Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 520 



(1885) ; Saunders, Man. p. 407 (1889) ; Lilford, Col. Fig. 



Brit. B. part xxvii. (1893); Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 



xxvii. p. 171 (1895). 



(Plate L VI.) 



Adult Male. General colour above varied, black, white, and 

 orange-chestnut, the head being black with a gloss of bottle- 

 green, the black occupying the entire head and upper throat j 



