ai.len’s naturalist's library. 
-’53 
and to see Ducks at their best, they must be observed in 
February and March, so that it would seem that they take 
nearly six months to attain their perfect plumage, after the 
change into their dull summer dress.” 
THE SIIELD-DUCKS. GENUS TADORNA. 
Tadonia, Fleming, Phil. Zool. ii. p. 260 (1822). 
Type, T. tadorna (L.). 
The Sheld-Ducks— of which the beautiful species figured in 
the accompanying plate is the typical representative— have the 
tarsus scutellated in front, a conspicuous wing-speculum, and 
the outer web of the innermost secondaries chestnut. On 
the edge of the bill the lamellae are prominent, and are more 
dpeloped towards the tip of the upper mandible. The bill 
widens out towards the tip, and is broader at the end than at 
the base, and on the lower mandible the lamellae do not pro- 
ject outwardly. The sexes are alike in plumage, and the feet 
are flesh-coloured. These are the characters of the genus 
Tadorna, according to Count Salvador!, and they are ample for 
its definition, as the two species of which it consists are both 
remarkable for their coloration, and are easily recognisable. 
Besides Tadorna tadorna, the European species, there is but 
one other, T. radjah, of the Malayan Archipelago. 
I. THE COMMON SHELD-DUCK. TADORNA TADORNA. 
Anas tadorna, Linn. S. N. i. p. 195 (1766). 
Tadorna vnlpanser, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 22 (1852). 
Tadorna corniita. Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 451, pi. 420 (1878)- 
B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 122 (1883) ; Saunders, ed. Yarn 
Br. B. iv. p. 352 (1885) j Seebohm, Br. B. iii. p. 520 
(1885); Saunders, Man. p. 407 (1889) 1 Lilford, Col. Fig. 
Brit. B. part xxvii. (1893) ; Salvad. Cat. B. Brit. Mus. 
xxvii. p. 171 (1895). 
(Plate LVI.) 
Adult Male.— General colour above varied, black, white, and 
orange-chestnut, the head being black with a gloss of bottle- 
green, the black occupying the entire head and upper throat ; 
