190 RUDDY SHIELDRAKE. 



Incubation is performed by both parents, each taking its turn in the arduous yet 

 pleasing labour. 



Hitherto they have resisted every attempt at domestication. They would, however, 

 form a very ornamental addition to any extensive artificial piece of water; and would 

 probably live and do well in suitable situations. 



In the adult male, according to Selby, the "forehead, cheeks, and chin, are pale 

 ochreous yellow ; region of the eyes, crown of the head, and nape of the neck, greyish 

 white; neck, as far as the collar, ochreous yellow, tinged with orange; collar, about 

 half an inch in width, glossed with green; breast, mantle, scapulars, and under parts 

 of the body, gall stone yellow, tinged with orange, being deepest upon the breast; 

 the feathers upon the upper parts of the body have the margins paler, and the long 

 tertials pass into sienna yellow; lesser and middle wing coverts, white; secondary quills, 

 green, glossed with purple, and forming a large speculum; greater quills, black; lower 

 part of the back, upper tail coverts, and tail, black, glossed with green; bill, legs, and 

 feet, black." The bill is lead-colour; the irides are yellowish brown. The legs, toes, 

 and their membranes are, according to Yarrell, of a "brownish gray." 



The female resembles the male, but wants the black collar. 



The male measures in length about two feet two inches. The female is rather 

 smaller. 



