THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SHELDRAKE 187 



caused by the sunlight passing through the semi- 

 translucent wing and tail feathers. In the case 

 of the sheldrake, the exaggerated size may be an 

 effect of strong sunlight on a flying white object. 

 Seen on the wing at a distance the plumage 

 appears entirely of a surpassing whiteness, the 

 dark patches of chestnut, black, and deep green 

 colour showing only when the bird is near, or 

 when it ahghts and folds its white wings. 



When the tide has covered their feeding- 

 ground on the coast, the sheldrakes are ac- 

 customed to visit the low green pasture -lands, 

 and may be seen in small flocks feeding like 

 geese on the clover and grass. Here one day I 

 saw about a dozen sheldrakes in the midst of an 

 immense congregation of rooks, daws, and starlings 

 feeding among some cows. It was a curious 

 gathering, and the red Devons, shining white 

 sheldrakes, and black rooks on the bright green 

 grass, produced a singular effect. 



Best of aU it is to observe the birds when 

 breeding in May. Brean Down is an ancient 

 favourite breeding-site, and the birds breed there 

 in the rabbit holes, and sometimes under a thick 

 furze-bush on the ground. At another spot on 



