794 BIRDS OF INDIA. 



Gen. Tadorna, Leach. 



Char. — Bill short, high, and gibbous at the base, concave in the 

 middle ; the tip flattened and turning upwards, of nearly uniform 

 breadth ; the nail abruptly hooked ; marginal lamellae not pro- 

 jecting ; wing tuberculated ; tarsus moderate ; feet rather short ; 

 tail of sixteen feathers. 



The Shieldrakes are a well marked group, distinguished by the 

 peculiar form of their bill. Their legs are set well forward, enab- 

 ling them to walk with ease. The sexes are nearly alike. They 

 breed in clefts of rocks or holes in the ground. Pallas remarks 

 that they do not extend far North, and that they are very partial 

 to salt lakes, feeding much on small Crustacea. 



956. Tadorna vulpanser, Fleming. 



Blyth, Cat. 1769 — Gould, Birds of Europe, pi. 357— A. 

 tadorna, Linn. — Tad. Bellonii, Stephens — Shah murghahi and 

 Niraji, in Sindh. 



The Shieldkake. 



Descr. — Male, head and upper part of neck deep blackish-green, 

 with glossy reflections ; lower part of the neck, back, wing-coverts, 

 rump, and base of the tail white, the latter black-tipped ; scapu- 

 lars black ; primaries blade ; greater-coverts, forming the speculum, 

 rich bronzed green, three or four of the secondaries next the 

 back, with their outer webs rich orange-brown ; lower plumage 

 white ; a broad band of ferruginous brown across the breast, the 

 ends passing upwards and uniting between the shoulders ; a mesial 

 line on the abdomen, widening at the vent, black ; under tail- 

 coverts pale reddish-brown. 



Bill blood-red ; irides brown ; legs fleshy-red inclining to 

 crimson. Length 23 inches ; wing 13 ; tail 5 ; bill at front 2£ ; 

 tarsus 2 ; mid-toe 2 ; weight about 3 fbs. 



The female has the colors somewhat more dull, and wants the 

 pectoral band. 



The Shieldrake is not common in any part of India, and is un- 

 known in the South. It has been occasionally procured in the 



