XLIII. 

 TADOKNA VULPANSER. 



Shieldrake. 



Unlike any other species of this tribe of birds with whicli 

 I am acquainted, the Shieldrake deposits its eggs in holes, 

 underground. It selects for that purpose the deserted bur- 

 rows of rabbits, and makes its nest at various distances from 

 the mouth of the hole, from three to six feet, sometimes even 

 at a greater depth ; the eggs are from ten to twelve in num- 

 ber, large, nearly round, and of a very smooth shell ; the nest 

 is composed of a small portion of dried grass, lined with the 

 down of the birds. The only place where I have seen them 

 during the breeding season is upon Holy Island, or Lindis- 

 farne, and the low sandy banks there known by the name of 

 links, which are nearly opposite to the island, and are one 

 large rabbit warren. 



This beautiful Duck forms one of the greatest ornaments 

 on those lakes and pieces of water which occur in gentlemen's 

 grounds ; the eggs are, in consequence, eagerly sought after, 

 and hatched for that purpose. 



The plan pursued in order to discover the hole in which 

 the eggs are laid, is by attaching a hook to the end of a long 

 stick, and thrusting it successively into each till feathers are 

 drawn out, and in this manner the eggs are likewise ex- 

 tracted. 



