SHELDRAKE— GEESE 51 



many ways it is remarkable. The sexes are coloured 

 alike, although the female is not quite so vivid in hue 

 as the male. The colours are strongly contrasted — 

 pure white relieved by broad bands of bright chestnut, 

 and rich metallic blue-blacks and greens. The beak 

 is a wonderful cherry-colour, the legs and feet are a 

 delicate pink. The Sheldrake is also called "Burrow 

 Duck," from its habit of nesting in burrows under- 

 ground. These they usually make for themselves, but 

 they will also make use of rabbit-burrows. See Plate 

 36, Fig. 209. 



The Sheldrakes are further remarkable in that they 

 never assume the "eclipse" dress, as it is called. In 

 most other species of Ducks, it will be remembered, 

 the female is a dull brownish hue, and this for a time is 

 assumed by the males, just after the young are 

 hatched. It is at this time that the moult, or annual 

 renewal of the quills, takes place, the Ducks shedding 

 their quills all at once, and not in pairs, as do most 

 other birds, which thus retain the power of flight. 

 Hence they are compelled to seek safety by hiding, 

 which they do very successfully, the sober hues of the 

 female dress harmonising perfectly with the bird's sur- 

 roundings. But the male Sheldrake, instead of 

 adapting himself in this way to his environment, seeks 

 safety at sea, or crouches among the vegetation near 

 his mate, brooding her eggs in her burrow. 



In this country, the Mergansers, or Fishing Ducks, 

 are called Sheldrakes. The Sheldrakes serve as a 

 connecting link between the Ducks and the Geese. 



In the true Geese, as in the true Sheldrakes, the 

 sexes are coloured alike — as a rule very soberly, al- 



