204 NATURALIST'S CABINET. 



Art of the female Descriptions.. 



from ten to sixteen eggs. The female is a very 

 artful bird, especially where the safety of her 

 young are at stake. In summer they fly in pairs, 

 bring up their young by the water-side, and lead 

 them to food as soon as they are out of the shell.' 

 When apprehensive of danger, they have been 

 known to build their nests in high trees, and in 

 other birds' nests. A tmoulting time, when they 

 cannot fly, they are caught in great plenty; and 

 in their annual migration to this country, they 

 are taken in decoys in still greater abundance, 

 particularly in Lincolnshire, the grand magazine 

 of wild fowl in this kingdom. 



THE SCAUP DUCK, OR MACULA, 



SO called from feeding on broken shell-fish, 

 is less than the common duck ; it is a beautiful 

 bird, but so diversified in colouring, that scarcely 

 two in a hundred can i be found alike. 



THE SHELDRAKE. 



THIS has a fiat bill, a compressed forehead, 

 a greenish black head, and the body variegated 

 with white. It is an inhabitant of the northern 

 world, so far as Iceland. They usually breed in 

 deserted rabbit-holes, and lay fifteen or sixteen 

 roundish white eggs, and sit about thirty days. 

 They are very careful of their young," say* 

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