20(> 
stances recorded, of its continuing to pro- 
pagate its species in a state of confinement. 
This defect (Montagu says) appears to be 
in the female, " she is constantly coy, al- 
though so strongly urged by the other sex, 
who it seems has every inclination/' In 
Lord Stanley's menagerie the male of this 
species has been known to breed with the 
Common Duck. 
In a state of nature the food of these birds 
consists of marine insects, the fry of fis}^ 
and small shell-fish, but, in confinement 
they will feed upon grain as readily as the 
domestic Duck, and will equally partake 
of aquatic plants. 
The Shieldrake breeds in the sand hills 
which separate Norfolk from the sea. They 
where formerly numerous at Winterton, 
but being supposed to disturb the rabbits 
considerable pains were taken to destroy 
as many as possible. Their haunts may 
be disco vered by the tracts of their feet at 
the mouths of the burrows frequented by 
them, And they are sometimes taken by 
a snare placed at the entrance of the bur- 
row. 
