226 BRITISH BIRDS' EGGS. 



naturalists as a British bird,, and during the winter of that 

 year several specimens were obtained upon our coasts. It 

 is a native of high northern regions and of the Baltic, and 

 is easily reconciled to captivity, breeding, it is said, as freely 

 as the common Tame Swan. It is a large species, measur- 

 ing fifty-seven inches in length; the young birds are white, 

 a point in which it differs from every other species of White 

 Swan ; and at all ages the plumage, continues changeless 

 white, while the form and colour of the bill differ from 

 those of the preceding species. "We have no doubt that a 

 general agreement exists between the breeding habits of 

 this swan and of those which precede, but we have no cer- 

 tain particulars of information upon the subject with which 

 to supply the reader. 



THE COMMON SHIELDRAKE. Tadorna Belonii. This 

 beautiful bird is seldom seen far inland, or frequenting fresh 

 waters, except during the season of incubation. It is a na- 

 tive of Northern Europe, and may also be seen at all seasons 

 upon various parts of our coast. In breeding, this species 

 selects, where opportunity occurs, the deserted burrows of 

 rabbit-warrens, placing its nest some feet from the entrance, 

 but where such accommodations do not present themselves, 

 it builds in the fissures of rocks and banks. The nest 



