66 ANATID^E. 



such as is resorted to by the common shelklrake {T. vtdpanser) 

 for the purpose of breeding. On the next day the specimen 

 came into the possession of T. W. Warren, Esq., in whose col- 

 lection it now is. Its plumage indicates a male nearly adult. 



Three individuals only of this species have been procured in 

 England — the first in 1776, the last in 1834 — and none in 

 Scotland. The ruddy shelldrake rarely visits any part of western 

 Europe ; its abode on that continent being in the eastern parts. 

 It is found extensively over Asia. 



THE SHELLDEAKE. 



Shieldrake ; Burrow Duck. 



Tadorna vulpanser, Leach. 

 Anas tadorna, Linn. 



Is found around the coast, and is indigenous. 



But very few of these beautifully-marked birds now breed on the 

 sandy coasts compared with what formerly did so. According 

 to Harris's 'Down' (174-4) : — "The shelldrake breeds in rabbit 

 burroughs on the shores of this county, particularly about KiUi- 

 leagh and the south of the barony of Lecale •'' — whether or not 

 it now frequents these localities is unknown to me ; the following 

 notes relate to other parts of this county. When visiting the 

 islands of Strangford Lough, in June 1832, I was told that 

 "scale-drakes" bred annually on some of them, and imagined 

 that this species might be meant ; but on cross-examination of 

 my informants, I ascertained that the reel-breasted merganser 

 must be the bird so called. This was soon afterwards confirmed 

 by one of these coming in sight, to which the name of scale- 

 drake was applied. AVhen visiting Dundrum in 1836, 1 was told 

 that the shelldrake still breeds on the extensive marine sand-hills 

 there. On the largest of the Copeland Islands they bred annu- 

 ally until the beginning of the present century, when it became 

 inhabited. The chief farmer there, in 1827, imagined that they 



