COMMON S II ELD-DUCK. 
TADORNA CORNUTA. 
Many different names are bestowed on this species, and I have been rather puzzled to ascertain which was the 
best to give it in the pages of ‘ Rough Notes.’ It is described under the heading of “ The Common Sheld-Duck 
in Yarrell, and this denomination appears the most appropriate, as by far the greater number of our wildfowl 
are termed Ducks, and not Drakes. It may not bo out of place to mention the various titles by which Sheld- 
Ducks are referred to in a few of our latest published ivorks on Ornithology, and to give the quaint appellations 
by Avhich they are known to the natives in several remote parts of the British Islands. Yarrell, as I previously 
stated, prefers the name of Common Shcld-Duck, while Seebohm and Dresser call the bird the Common 
Sheldrake. It is also frequently spoken of as the Burrow-Duck by the natives of the locality in which it 
hatches its eggs. Seebohm, when referring to the various designations of Shield-drake, Shield-duck, Shell-duck, 
and Sheld-duck, states that “The name is derived from the low German ScheldraJc, which may possibly refer to 
the shield-like protuberance at the base of the upper mandible of the bill ; but Willugliby and Ray stated, more 
than two hundred years ago, that they were called ‘ Sheldrakes because they are particoloured. In Norfolk it is 
provincially known as the Bargander, a corruption of M illughby and Ray s Bergander, a name borrowed by 
them from Aldrovandus, and obviously derived from the high German Bergente, though some writers inter pi et 
it as Burgander, ‘bur’ being a common north-country term for a burrow\” I he following extracts from 
Yarrell, describing the habits of this species and also stating the strange names they have acquired in certain 
remote localities, are doubtless correct, and the sources from which the information is obtained are given : “ Some 
are to be found on the sea-coast during the wdiole year, preferring flat shores, sandy bars, and links, where they 
breed in rabbit-burrows or other holes in the soft soil, avhence the name of ‘ Burrow Duck ’ and ‘ Bargander.’ 
In Scotland it is called ‘ Skeelting Goose,’ according to Sibbald and other w'riters since his time, also Stock- 
Annet.’ Many Sheld-Ducks come from the north to visit this country for the winter, for this species is rather 
intolerant of cold.” Again, after making remarks on its breeding-liabits along the eastern shores of both 
England and Scotland, the names it has acquired are referred to. To Shetland it is a rare visitor at any season; 
but is more common in Orkney, wdiere. Dr. Patrick Neill says, “ it has got the name of Sly Goose, from the arts 
which the natives find it employs to decoy them from the neighbourhood of its nest ; it frequently feigns 
lameness, and w^addles wdtli one wing trailing on the ground, thus inducing a pursuit of itself, till, judging its 
young to be safe from discovery, it suddenly takes flight and leaves the outwutted Orcadian gaping with 
surprise.” It is numerous in summer in ilie Hebrides, wdicre it is knowm as the “ Strand-Goose,” and also in 
some districts on the w^est side of the mainland. Dresser does not give us much information concerning the 
nomenclature of this species, merely stating that tlie English names are “ SlieldraTic, Burrow^-Sheldrake, 
Bargander.” He, however, concludes his article by a short paragraph probably taken from the proof-sheets of 
the long-expected 3rd vol. of the ‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ which he previously asserted had been placed at his disposal 
by the author : — “ Mr. Stevenson, referring to the provincial name of ‘ Bargander ’ or ‘ Burgander,’ by which 
