COMMON SHELDRAKE 215 



1896-1905) . One observer thinks that they feed both by day and by night during the 

 summer, but during the winter almost exclusively at night (Cordeaux, 1896). 

 Between tides they rest on the shore, and conceal themselves between hillocks, or 

 they may resort to nearby meadows or patches of turf, rocks or sand mounds 

 (Naumann, 1896-1905). 



Gait. Since this bird spends most of its time on land, or in very shallow water, 

 its gait is less clumsy than that of true ducks. Seebohm (1885) thinks they walk 

 about as well as geese, and they run quickly for long distances. Their posture is that 

 of the Mallard, excepting that the hind parts appear somewhat longer. The neck is 

 bent back in S-shape. When resting they usually stand on one leg, like other ducks, 

 the neck being then laid on the back, or turned with the bill hidden among the scap- 

 ulars (Naumann, 1896-1905). 



Swimming and Diving. Although seldom seen on the open water, and ap- 

 parently not fond of swimming, the Sheldrake will take to the open sea for protec- 

 tion. On the water its appearance resembles that of the Mallard, though it carries 

 the neck somewhat higher (Naumann, 1896-1905). Finn (1915) says it appears high 

 in the stern, and the male especially sits high in the water, looking much larger than 

 the female, and this is certainly noticeable in captive birds. The young are very 

 expert divers, and fully able to take care of themselves when first brought to the sea 

 from their underground nests. As they reach maturity, however, this habit is lost, 

 or rather it is made use of only rarely when an individual is wounded or suddenly 

 frightened (Bodinus, 1862; Baker, 1908; Cordeaux, 1896). Though they usually 

 feed by wading in shallow water, a few observers have occasionally remarked them 

 tipping up perpendicularly, with only the posterior part out of water, like the Mal- 

 lard (Naumann, 1896-1905; Dixon, 1893). 



Flight. They rise easily from the water, not like geese or swans, and usually 

 fly about rather close to the surface, presenting a striking appearance with their 

 white plumage and bold color-pattern. Many describe their flight as closely re- 

 sembling that of geese or swans, or even as gull-like, with slow and regular beats 

 (Seebohm, 1885; Blathwayt, Avic. Mag., ser. 1, vol. 8, p. 251, 1902; Payne-Gallwey, 

 1882), but Naumann (1896-1905) does not consider the flight as gooselike or slow, 

 comparing it rather with that of the Mallard and other non-diving ducks. Only 

 when flying at a considerable height and in a still, heavy atmosphere do their wing- 

 beats become more measured and gooselike. The birds alight easily, but have some 

 difficulty in dropping upon smaller bodies of water, as Heinroth (1911) noted in the 

 ponds of the Berlin Gardens. As with most other ducks, the female usually leads 

 when they fly in pairs (Naumann, 1896-1905). 



