138 THE SHELLDRAKE OR BURROW-DUCK. 
the least palatable of all our Ducks. Even skinning these birds 
before cooking them fails to free them from a rank fishy taste ; 
though in a highly seasoned stew this may be nearly smothered. 
THE SHELLDRAKE does not breed in India. In Europe, 
where it breeds on our British Coasts and those of Sweden, 
Norway, Denmark, Holland, and Northern France, &c., it nests 
during May and June in some deserted burrow, generally that 
of a Rabbit, occasionally that of other animals, such as Foxes 
and Badgers. Sometimes, it is said, that it may be found 
nesting without molestation in a burrow, stiil occupied by 
one of these latter animals. 
It lays normally from eight to sixteen eggs, but in parts 
of Holland, where large numbers exist in an only half wild 
state, and where the peasants prepare nest holes artificially 
for it, and make a regular and profitable business of robbing 
the nest both of eggs and of the fine down in which the bird 
deposits them, 7¢ wii lay up to thirty eggs. The nest from 
six to twelve feet from the entrance of the hole is composed 
of dry grass and the like, and is densely lined with the bird’s 
own down. 
The eggs vary a good deal in shape; some are very round, 
some only moderately broad ovals. In texture the shell is 
very close and smooth, very like that of the Nukhta’s egg. In 
colour they vary from nearly pure white to a pale cream 
colour, sometimes showing the greenish tinge of the Mallard’s 
eggs. 
In length they vary from 2°45 to 2°75; and in breadth from 
1°75 to 1°95. 
The young are hatched in from 28 to 30 days, and are 
immediately led to the sea by the old ones. 
THE SEXES are alike,—except that the male is rather brighter 
coloured, and has in life, (it nearly disappears in skins,) a con- 
siderable knob at the base of the culmen which the female 
wants,—but the males are markedly larger than their mates. 
I have only recorded the dimensions of five birds of each sex, 
so that I fear that the following measurements will hardly 
sufficiently exhibit the limits within which this species varies :— 
Males—Length, 235 to 25°25; expanse, 41 to 46; wing, 
12°5 to 13°6;. tail from: vent, 4:75 to 5353 tarsus; 24 town 
bill. from gape, 2:2 to 24; weight, 2 ibs. 6 ozs, to Zips 
14 OZS. | 
Females.—Length, 208 to 22; expanse, 39 to 42; wing, 
11°75 to 12°4 ; tail from vent, 4'2 to 4°9; tarsus, 1°95 to 2°07; 
bill from gape, 2°1 to 2:2 ; weight, 2 ths. to 2 Ibs. 2 ozs. 
In adults the bills are deep red ; the nail dusky ; the irides 
brown ; and the legs and feet fleshy pink to fleshy red, often 
more or less creamy on the front of toes and tarsi. 
