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Genus TADOENA. 



Anas apud Brisson, Om. vi. p. 344 (1760). 



Tadorna, Fleming, Phil, of Zool. ii. p. 260 (1822). 



Casarca apud Bonaparte, Comp. List, p. 56 (1838). 



Vulpanser apud Keyserling & Blasius, Wirbelth. Eur. p. 84 (1840). 



This genus is represented in the Palsearctic, Ethiopian, Oriental, and Australian Begions, two 

 species being found in the Western Palsearctic Begion. 



In many respects the Sheldrakes resemble the Geese, and form, as it were, a link between 

 them and the Ducks. They are partial to salt water ; and one species, Tadorna comuta, is never 

 found far from the sea ; but the other European species is usually found on the large rivers, 

 frequently far away from the sea. They walk with ease, like the Geese, and frequently graze in 

 the corn-fields and pastures. They fly with ease, their flight resembling that of the Mallard ; and 

 their call-note is either a quack or else a deep trumpet-like call. They feed on vegetable sub- 

 stances and on small mollusca, chiefly on the former. They nest in holes in the ground, hollow 

 trees, or crevices in the rocks, and deposit numerous creamy-white eggs. 



Tadorna comuta, the type of the genus, has the bill higher than broad at the base, gradually 

 depressed, rearcuate and becoming broader towards the end, which is rounded ; unguis oblong, 

 bent abruptly downwards and inwards ; nostrils oblong ; the lamellae thin and elevated, the ends 

 just showing near the centre of the edge of the bill; trachea of nearly uniform width, a little 

 enlarged at the lower part of the neck ; the lower larynx with two unequal, irregularly rounded, 

 thin, bony sacs ; bronchi moderate ; wings long, pointed, full, the second quill longest ; inner 

 secondaries oblong, elongated ; tail moderate, slightly rounded ; legs short, tibia bare for a short 

 distance ; tarsus short, compressed, anteriorly scutellate ; hind toe elevated, with lobiform mem- 

 brane ; anterior toes rather long, interdigital membrane full ; claws small, compressed, rather 

 obtuse. 



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