. British birds. Birds. VOL. VI.] NOTES. 157 ABNORMAL BREEDING-HABITS OF THE SHELD-DUCK. The Sheld-Ducks {Tadorna tadorna) which frequent the shore of the Bristol Channel for some miles north and south of the mouth of the river Avon appear to have rather peculiar breeding-habits. They usually lay their eggs in hollow pollards in the adjoining marshes, often several miles inland. On most parts of the coast, however, the usual nesting-site is?. EXPOSED NEST OF SHKLD-DUCK. (Pliotographed by D. Munro Smith.) I believe, an old rabbit-burrow. The marshes consist of flat fields, intersected by bracki
. British birds. Birds. VOL. VI.] NOTES. 157 ABNORMAL BREEDING-HABITS OF THE SHELD-DUCK. The Sheld-Ducks {Tadorna tadorna) which frequent the shore of the Bristol Channel for some miles north and south of the mouth of the river Avon appear to have rather peculiar breeding-habits. They usually lay their eggs in hollow pollards in the adjoining marshes, often several miles inland. On most parts of the coast, however, the usual nesting-site is?. EXPOSED NEST OF SHKLD-DUCK. (Pliotographed by D. Munro Smith.) I believe, an old rabbit-burrow. The marshes consist of flat fields, intersected by brackish ditches. Most of the rabbit-burrows are in the sides of these ditches, hidden and roofed over by tall, double hedges, Avhich may account for the choice of the more obvious pollards as nesting-sites. This June I foimd a Sheld-Duck's nest in rather an exceptional place. It was on the ground, quite exposed, in an osier-bed, and is shown in my photograph. Whether the old bird was merely feigning lameness or really experienced difficulty in rising amidst the surrounding undergrowth, I do not know, but I caught her easily, as she was shuffling off the. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original London, Witherby & Co
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