THE RUDDY SHELD-DTTCK. 265 



and edged warm buff, in some white washed pink-buff ; lesser 

 coverts white, in some washed pink-buff. 



First winter. Male and female. — As adult eclipse but distin- 

 guished by mouse -grey of greater coverts (sometimes on inner web 

 only) and mouse-grey edges to median coverts. The juvenile body- 

 plumage, tail and some innermost secondaries are moulted from 

 Aug. onwards, but not rest of wings. First summer. — Moult as in 

 adult after which body and tail as in winter and summer adults, 

 males acquiring by Feb. black ring round neck but always distin- 

 guishable by mouse -grey retained juvenile greater coverts. 



Measurements and structure. — £ wing 350-399 mm., tail 118— 

 144, tarsus 55-65, bill from feathers 42-50 (12 measured). .$ wing 

 327-357, bill 36-47. Primaries : 1st narrow, pointed and little 

 more than half longest primary- covert, 3rd longest, 2nd 2-12 mm. 

 shorter, 4th 7-13 shorter, 5th 24-35 shorter, 6th 45-54 shorter ; 

 2nd emarginated inner, 3rd outer, 4th slightly outer webs. Inner- 

 most secondaries rounded and shorter than 7th primary. Both sexes 

 with rounded carpal "spur" most prominent in adult male. 

 Scapulars slightly rounded at tip. Tail almost square only slightly 

 rounded, 14 feathers. Upper tail-coverts almost reach tip of tail. 

 Bill as broad at base as at tip, culmen descending and slightly 

 concave, lamellae equally developed along inner edge of upper 

 mandible, lamella? on edge of lower mandible project outwardly. 



Soft parts. — Bill (ad.) blackish ; legs blackish ; iris brown : 

 (Dresser). 



Characters. — No subspecies. Easily distinguished by its uniform 

 cinnamon -rufous coloration. 



Field -characters. — Distinguished at once by coloration, orange - 

 buff, palest on head, with black tail and primaries and large white 

 wing-patch which is very prominent in flight. Much less maritime 

 than Sheld-Duck, but has similar slow and laboured flight. Swims 

 with neck erect, fore-parts low and stern high. Call a reiterated 

 " kark " or " kape " (Saunders) and I have heard a honking croak 

 in flight. 



Breeding-habits. — Breeds in holes of any kind, in cliffs, among 

 ruins, in burrows and it is said even in old eyries of Raptores and in 

 hollow trees. Nest. — Of down with feathers, etc. Eggs. — 8 or 9 to 

 about 16 in number, white or tinged yellowish. Average of 71, 

 67.0x47.0. Max.: 72x49 and 68.8x49.5. Min. : 61.5x45.6 

 and 65x45 mm. Breeding-season. — May. Incubation. — Probably 

 by female but no reliable details. Probably single- brooded. 



Food. — Growing crops, corn, grass, etc., also water-weeds, fish, 

 mollusca, Crustacea, also offal and dead bodies even of human 

 beings. 



Distribution — British Isles.- — Pare vagrant. Many occurred June 

 to Sept., 1892, various parts Ireland, in Cumberland, Sutherland, 

 Elgin, Lines., Norfolk, and Suffolk. Flocks ten to fifteen and even 



