326 NATATORES. 



aquatic part of their food chiefly by dabbling in the shallows 

 without diving, and feed more upon vegetable matter. Those 

 with the margined hind toe are more of sea-birds, live more 

 by fishing under the surface ; and the flavotir of their flesh 

 is more rank and fleshy. We have space for only a brief 

 catalogue. 



THE COMMON SHELDRAKE (Tadorna vulpanser). 



This is a resident species, and in its plumage one of the 

 most beautiful of the whole. It is about two feet in length 

 and three and a half in the stretch of the wings ; and it 

 weighs from two pounds and a half to three pounds. The 

 feet, and also the principal part of the bill, are reddish ; but 

 the tubercle at the base of the bill, the openings of the nos- 

 trils, and the nail of the tip, are black. The bill has a slight 

 bend upwards, and the forehead is narrow and compressed. 

 The head and neck are very deep glossy green. The lower 

 part of the neck, the back, rump, upper tail coverts, and 

 basal front of the tail feathers, white. A band of reddish 

 bay on the breast, which forms a narrow collar on the lower 

 part of the neck, and proceeds along the sides and flanks 

 under the wings ; and through this band, a list of brownish 

 black extends towards the vent. Outer half of the scapulars 

 and quills black, the secondaries glossed with green and 

 bronze reflections, forming a wing spot. Tips of the tail 

 feathers, which are fourteen in number, white. Female 

 marked like the male, but rather less in size, and the colours 

 not so bright. 



This species nestles in holes, on the retired beaches, and 

 near the lower estuaries of the rivers, which it seldom quits. 

 Eggs ten to fifteen, and of a white colour. The female covers 

 them with down pulled from her own breast ; though the 

 male takes her place morning and evening, when she leaves 

 the nest to feed. The nest is usually very near the water, to 



