168 BUDDY SHIELDBAKE. 



These birds assemble in flocks, except wben paired in the 

 summer. The male and female seem much attached to each 

 other. 



They feed early in the morning, and again towards nightfall, 

 in corn and stubble fields, resorting thither from the marshes, 

 which they otherwise inhabit. 



Yarrell says, 'The voice of the bird when flying is not 

 unlike the tone of a clarionet; at other times it cries like a 

 peacock, especially when kept confined; and now and then 

 clucks like a hen.' 



This bird builds its nest in holes in river banks, such as 

 have been burrowed and deserted by animals, or those of natural 

 formation. It is lined with feathers of the bird itself, the 

 remainder being any sorts of stalks and sticks. 



The eggs are white, and eight or nine or ten in number. 

 They are highly polished. 



Male; length, two feet two or three inches, to two feet four. 

 The bill, which is red, is depressed in the middle part, and 

 there is a raised knob at the base; iris, yellowish brown; head 

 on the crown and sides, and neck on the back, buff colour, 

 darkening towards the nape and all round, where it becomes 

 almost orange brown, with the exception of a black colour, 

 which encircles it round the middle; chin, buff colour; breast, 

 orange brown; back, orange brown. Greater and lesser wing 

 coverts, pale buff white; primaries, leaden grey -nearly black; 

 secondaries, leaden grey, the speculum brilliant green; tertiaries, 

 orange brown. Legs and toes, brownish grey; webs, brownish 



grey- 

 Female; head on the sides, white; on the crown and the 

 neck, mouse grey; throat, white; breast, light ferruginous, paler 

 below; back on the upper part, light ferruginous, on the lower 

 part dark brown with a tinge of green. The wings have a 

 blunt spur at the bend; greater and lesser wing coverts, white, 

 forming a broad mark on the wing; primaries, brown, the 

 edges darker: the secondaries exhibit a green speculum. Tail, 

 dark brown with a tinge of green. Webs, black. 



