Crass II. SHIELDRAKE. 
next are a fine green, and those of the three 
succeeding orange; the coverts of the tail are 
white; the tail itself of the same color, and ex- 
cept the two outmost feathers tipt with black; 
the belly white, divided lengthways by a black 
line; the legs of a pale flesh color. 
These birds inhabit the sea coasts, and breed 
in rabbet holes. When a person attempts to 
take their young, the old birds shew great-ad- 
dress in diverting his attention from the brood ; 
they will fly along the ground as if wounded, 
till the former are got into a place of security, 
and then return and collect them together. 
From this instinctive cunning, Turner, with 
good reason, imagines them to be the chena- 
lopex,* or fox-goose of the antients: the natives 
of the Orknies to this day call them the slygoose, 
from an attribute of that quadruped. They lay 
fifteen or sixteen eggs, white, and of a roundish 
shape. In winter they collect in grzat flocks. 
Their flesh is very rank and bad. 
* Plinn, Lil. x. c. 22. 
VOL, II. s 
257 
