162 ANATIN^E. TADORNA. 



derably rearcuate, and becoming a little broader toward the 

 end, which is rounded ; upper mandible with the dorsal line 

 sloping to beyond the nostrils, then a little concave, at the 

 end decurved, the ridge flattened at the base, and gradually 

 narrowed, the unguis oblong, rather abruptly bent down- 

 wards and inwards, the edges sinuous, the lamellae with 

 their outer ends thin and not appearing beyond the margin. 

 Mouth rather narrow; anterior palate concave, with a me- 

 dial prominent line, and on each side a series of trans- 

 verse, thin, elevated lamellae, larger and more widely set 

 toward the end. Digestive organs as in the character of 

 the family. Trachea of nearly uniform width, a little en- 

 larged at the lower part of the neck ; the lower larynx with 

 two unequal, irregularly roundish, extremely thin bony sacs ; 

 bronchi of moderate size. Nostrils oblong, moderate. Eyes 

 rather small. Legs rather short ; tibia bare for a consi- 

 derable space ; tarsus short, compressed, with very small ante- 

 rior scutella ; hind toe elevated, with a lobiform membrane, 

 outer toe nearly as long as the third ; all scutellate above ; 

 interdigital membranes full ; claws small, compressed, little 

 arched, rather blunt. Feathers of the head and upper neck 

 short and very soft ; scapulars large, oblong, rounded ; wings 

 rather long, broad, pointed, the second quill longest, the 

 first a little shorter ; inner secondaries elongated, oblong ; 

 tail moderate, nearly even, of fourteen weak rounded fea- 

 thers. 



The males differ from the females only in being larger, 

 and in having the tints purer. They generally continue 

 with the females, which deposit their numerous white or 

 cream-coloured eggs in a hole in the ground, or a crevice in 

 rocks. Their food consists of vegetable substances. 



243. TADORNA VULPANSER. BURROW SHIELDUCK. 



Male twenty -four inches long, with the bill rearcuate, and 

 having a fleshy knob at the base above ; the wing with a 

 blunt tubercle, the tail of fourteen feathers ; the bill bright 

 red ; the feet flesh-coloured ; the head and upper neck black, 

 glossed with green, the lower neck white ; the fore part of 

 the body light red ; the rest of the plumage white, excepting 

 a medial band on the breast and abdomen, a broad patch on 



