246 DUCKS, aEESE, SWANS, AND PELICANS. 



The Shieldrake. 



ENGLISH Stnontms. — Burrow SMelduok : McGrillivray. SMeldrake : Mon- 

 tagu, Selby, Jenyns. Popular names : Skeldrake, Skelgoose, Skieling 

 Goose, Burrow Duck, St. George's Duok, Stockannet. 



Latin Synonyms. — Anas tadorna: Linn., Latham, Temminok. Tadorna 



vulpanser : Selby, Bonapai-te, McGillivray. 

 French Synonym. — Canard Tadorne. 



This very beautiful bird is a permanent resident in tbe British. 

 Islands, although it is only met sparingly along our coasts. It 



Fig. 93. — The Shieldrake {Anas tadorna). 



resorts in spring and summer to the sandy bays on the west coast 

 of England and Scotland, from the Land's End to the Shetland 

 IsMnds. In autumn and winter it is found on the eastern coast 

 both of Scotland and England, where many individuals remain 

 to breed. It is generally found in the neighbourhood of sandy, 

 marshy land and moist meadows near the sea. It walks with 

 a quickish step, and has a swift flight, something like the Mallard, 

 and with a more rapid beat of the wings than the Groose. 



The Shieldrake (Fig. 93) is the most remarkable of all the 



