144 BRITISH BIRDS. 



GENUS CXIV. TADORNA, Flemyng (1822) 



Bill as long as head, elevated at base and furnished with 

 a protuberance or knob, much depressed in middle ; nai^ 

 decurved. 



214. Tadorna tadorna (Linn.). COMMON SHELD- 



DUCK. 



Hab. Palaearctic regions. 



Male : head and upper neck deep glossy green ; lower 

 neck white ; upper mantle, shoulders and breast chestnut : 

 wing-coverts white, " speculum " metallic green, rest of 

 wing blackish-brown ; remainder of upper parts white 

 with a black tip to tail ; middle of belly deep brown, sides 

 white ; bill and protuberance bright red ; iris reddish- 

 brown ; feet flesh colour. Length 24*00. Female : lacks 

 protuberance on bill. Young : neck and head brown, with 

 a good deal of white on latter ; whole under parts white ; 

 bill flesh-colour ; feet purplish-grey. 



Breeds sparingly on sandy shores on all parts of the 

 British coasts. Nest : commonly placed in rabbit bur- 

 rows, occasionally under rocks or in a hole excavated 

 by the bird ; grass and bents, lined with down from 

 the bird's breast. Eggs : 8 to 12 ; creamy -white ; 270 

 by 1-90. 



GENUS CXV. CASARCA, Bonaparte (1838). 



215. Casarea easarea (Linn.). RUDDY SHELD-DUCK. 

 Hab. Southern Palsearctic region. 



Prior to 1892 a very rare or even doubtful .visitor, only 

 9 or 10 occurrences being on record, but in the year men- 

 tioned a considerable immigration tool? place, nearly 20 

 examples being shot, chiefly from small flocks, on various 

 parts of our coasts. 



