. The birds of Europe . umage; the latter is, however,somewhat smaller in size, and her colours are more obscure. M. Temminck states that it is found in all thenorthern and western countries of Europe, along the borders of the sea, being abundant in Holland and France,and accidentally appearing in the rivers of Germany and other parts of the Continent. The whole of the head and upper parts of the neck glossy black ; the lower part of the neck, the shoulders,sides of the abdomen, back, tail, upper and under tail-coverts, white ; the tail being tipped with black, whichcolour runs down, the middl
. The birds of Europe . umage; the latter is, however,somewhat smaller in size, and her colours are more obscure. M. Temminck states that it is found in all thenorthern and western countries of Europe, along the borders of the sea, being abundant in Holland and France,and accidentally appearing in the rivers of Germany and other parts of the Continent. The whole of the head and upper parts of the neck glossy black ; the lower part of the neck, the shoulders,sides of the abdomen, back, tail, upper and under tail-coverts, white ; the tail being tipped with black, whichcolour runs down, the middle of the belly, and covers the greater portion of the scapulars and greater quill-feathers ; a broad band of chestnut encircles the breast and upper part of the back ; speculum of the wingbrilliant green ; beak bright orange-red ; tarsi and feet flesh-colour. The young have the forehead, fore part of the neck, and under parts, inclining to white. The Plate represents the male three fourths of the natural size. .-•>. < 11 Is ^ ^ RUDDY SHIELDRAKE. Tadorna rutila, Casarka, Canard Kasarka. While we follow Messrs. Stephens and Selby in placing this magnificent Duck in the genus Tadorna, weare not satisfied that the situation assigned to it is perfectly correct; it appears to us to constitute the typeof a distinct form, of which the Anas Tadorndides, Jard., of New South Wales will form a second think it approaches nearer to the true Geese than to the Shieldrakes, inasmuch as it possesses a rounderform of body, stands higher upon the legs, and has a shorter bill, better adapted for grazing or nibblinggrasses and aquatic vegetables, which constitute its principal food. As a European bird the Tadorna rutila may be considered as one of the rarest, and more particularly so as aBritish species, not more than two or three instances of its occurrence in our island being on record ; one ofwhich, as stated by Mr. Fox in his Synopsis of the Newcastle Museum
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