306 DUCK. 



addition of a labyrinth at the lowest part, and is unlike that of any 

 one hitherto mentioned ; it consists of two roundish bladders, one 

 bigger than the other, of unequal surface, and most delicate bony 

 texture; being of so tender a fabric, as scarely to bear the pressure of 

 the finger, without being indented in young subjects, or breaking 

 in old ones. See the figure in the Lin. Trans, above referred to. 



This species is found as far as Iceland to the north ; visits Sweden 

 in the winter, and returns in spring ; frequent in Asia, about the 

 Caspian Sea, and all the salt lakes of the Tartarian and Siberian 

 Deserts,* as well as in Kaintschatka.t Our voyagers, too, if they 

 were right in the species, are said to have met with it at Falkland 

 Isles, % also at Van Diemen's Land.§ , 



A. — This is nearly the size of the Moscovy Duck. The bill 

 shorter than in the Common Wild Duck ; head and neck shining 

 black ; the remainder of the neck to the body pure white ; wings to 

 the quills white, the larger quills black, the second quills black, 

 brown, and white ; the belly varied in the same manner. 



This bird, which appears to be no other than the Shieldrake, is 

 said to be met with in the salt ponds of the Islands of Ivica and 

 Formentera, in the Mediterranean, coming and departing with the 

 Swan. 



68— NEW-HOLLAND SHIELDRAKE. 



SIZE of the Shieldrake, with much of the habit of that bird; 

 length twenty-four inches. Bill black ; head and neck black, below 



* Between Sysran and Symbyrsk, in the spring, Mr. Lepeehin met with the Shieldrake, 

 and other sorts of Ducks, in such quantities, as to be obliged to stop his ears on account 

 of their noise. — Decouv. russ. i. 472. f Arct. Zool. 



% The Sheldrakes swarmed in such a manner at Falkland Islands, that in sailing our 

 boats under the rocks we have killed hundreds with our oars and boat-hooks. — Penrose, 

 p. 34. § Cook's last Voy. i. p. 229. I rather suspect this to be the New-Holland, 



pr following Species. 



