182 WILD-FOWL AND SEA-FOWL OF GREAT BRITAIN 



THE SHELD-DUCK. 



(Tadorna cornuta.} 



MALE. The bill, and knob at its base, bright 

 carmine ; the nail dusky ; iris brown. Head and 

 neck glossy blackish-green, with purple reflections ; 

 a broad band of white succeeds, then another of 

 orange red, encircling the fore-part of the body. 

 Rest of lower parts white, with the exception of a 

 band of black on the breast and belly. The feathers 

 below the tail sienna yellow. The middle and hind- 

 part of back white ; also the tail, the six middle 

 feathers being tipped with black. Wing coverts 

 and secondary coverts white ; primaries and their 

 coverts greyish-black. The outer secondaries are 

 glossy green externally ; three of the inner are 

 light red externally ; legs and feet flesh-coloured. 

 Length, from bill to tail, twenty-four inches. 



FEMALE. Smaller than the male, and differs in 

 wanting the knot at the base of the upper mandible. 



