94 FAMILIAR WILD BIRDS. 



the soil is soft and food plentiful. In addition to the 

 name of Shieldrake, it is also known as the Burrow Duck 

 and Shelldrake. In Scotland it is called the Skeeling 

 Goose. 



The food is somewhat miscellaneous in character, con- 

 sisting of marine insects of different sorts, small bivalves 

 and shelled mollusca, sea worms, sand-hoppers, and the 

 remains of shell-fish. In captivity it feeds upon grain of 

 any sort, soaked bread, and vegetables. Its partiality for 

 shelled food has probably originated the name of Shell- 

 drake; but the title of Shieldrake is no doubt to be 

 traced to the fact that the bird was frequently made use 

 of as a sign in heraldry, many families of this country 

 having a shield with one of these birds on it as a portion 

 of their crests or coat s-of- arms. The name of Burrow 

 Duck is a very natural allusion to its habit of breeding 

 in rabbit burrows, or holes of a similar description. 



The sand-hills on the Norfolk and Northumbrian coasts 

 are well-known resorts of these waterfowl, and they breed 

 there regularly, making their nests in the old rabbit-holes 

 that abound in those localities. They also breed in many 

 parts of Scotland. The nest is made of dried bents of 

 grass, hay, and other suitable materials, and lined with 

 the soft down from the breast of the adult birds. Ten or 

 twelve eggs are laid ; they are about two inches and three- 

 quarters in length, and nearly two inches in breadth. The 

 colour is white, and the surface very smooth and shiny in 

 appearance. 



The young birds, soon after being hatched, follow their 

 parents to the water, and very quickly learn to provide for 

 themselves. According to Mr. Yarrell, the old birds are 

 often caught during the breeding season by placing a snare 



