364 COMMON SHELDRAKE. 



of white widening out on the breast, followed by a 

 similar ring of bright chestnut ; the back, rump, and 

 sides are white, the tail is white tipped with black, 

 and a broad black line runs from the centre of the 

 breast under the belly; the wings are made up of 

 white, black, green and chestnut. It is a large bird, 

 being considerably bigger than the Wild Duck or 

 Mallard. The Sheldrake feeds upon water insects 



COMMON SHELDRAKE. 



and various water plants, also on marine animals; 

 it does not dive for its food, but fishes for it in 

 shallow water with its head and half its body im- 

 mersed, its tail being upright in the air. Its flight is 

 slow and laboured, and it walks with ease. 



This bird builds its nest in a rabbit burrow; oc- 

 casionally they will excavate a hole for themselves, 

 but as a rule they have a great objection to doing so, 



