COMMON SHELDRAKE. 



225 



The Cojimon Sheldrake. 

 Tadorna Bellonii, Leach. {Fig. 33.) 



Head and neck greenish black : pectoral band, and under 

 tail covers, rufous : vent and abdominal band black : 

 bill red: legs flesh-colour. — The male. 



Anas Tadorna, Linn., Auct. Tadorna Bellonii, Leach, Gen. 

 Zool. xii. 2. 72. Tadorna Vulpanser, Selhy, ill, of Brit. Orn. 

 ii. 289. Tadorne, Bvff. PL Enl. 53. Canard tadorne, 

 Temm. Man. ii. 833. Sheldrake, or Burrow Sheldrake, of 

 British Authors. 



The sheldrake, one of the most elegant of our native 

 ducks, deserves to be added to our list of tameable species; 

 for although, in a state of nature, it is rarely seen on the 

 fresh waters of this country, it is well known, as Mr. 

 Selby says, to thrive very well when confined to fresh- 

 water ponds. Indeed, it is so much prized and sought 

 after for that purpose, that the inhabitants of the coast 

 are in the practice of watching the old birds to their 

 nests during the breeding season, and digging up the 

 eggs. These are placed under a hen or tame duck ; but 

 great care and attention are requisite in rearing the 

 young ; and it is seldom that above three or four sur- 

 vive from a hatching of a dozen eggs. The young soon 

 become tolerably tame, and answer to the call of the 

 person who feeds them : when fully fledged, however, 

 being very active birds, they are apt to stray away ; and 

 if left with their pinions unmutilated, generally, in time, 

 fly entirely off; although they sometimes return after an 

 Q 



