. Animals in menageries. ese,the latter the ducks,) that the males have not a distinctand decided tone of colouring on their plumage, notbroken into spots of uniformly plain colours, as we seein female birds, and in the supposed Anas arborea ofauthors. Whether this bird, however, be the female ofthe red-billed species, or of some other, must be still aquestion. With so many of our countrymen in theregions where these birds are found, we really hopesome further information may be sent of them to theOrnithological Society. * Gen. Hist, of Birds, x. 298. COMMON SHELDRAKE. 225 The Cojimon Sheldrak
. Animals in menageries. ese,the latter the ducks,) that the males have not a distinctand decided tone of colouring on their plumage, notbroken into spots of uniformly plain colours, as we seein female birds, and in the supposed Anas arborea ofauthors. Whether this bird, however, be the female ofthe red-billed species, or of some other, must be still aquestion. With so many of our countrymen in theregions where these birds are found, we really hopesome further information may be sent of them to theOrnithological Society. * Gen. Hist, of Birds, x. 298. COMMON SHELDRAKE. 225 The Cojimon Bellonii, Leach. {Fig. 33.) Head and neck greenish black: pectoral band, and undertail covers, rufous: vent and abdominal band black :bill red: legs flesh-colour.—The male. Anas Tadorna, Linn., Auct. Tadorna Bellonii, Leach, xii. 2. 72. Tadorna Vulpanser, Selhy, ill, of Brit. 289. Tadorne, Bvff. PL Enl. 53. Canard tadorne,Temm. Man. ii. 833. Sheldrake, or Burrow Sheldrake, ofBritish The sheldrake, one of the most elegant of our nativeducks, deserves to be added to our list of tameable species;for although, in a state of nature, it is rarely seen on thefresh waters of this country, it is well known, as says, to thrive very well when confined to fresh-water ponds. Indeed, it is so much prized and soughtafter for that purpose, that the inhabitants of the coastare in the practice of watching the old birds to theirnests during the breeding season, and digging up theeggs. These are placed under a hen or tame duck; butgreat care and attention are requisite in rearing theyoung ; and it is seldom that above three or four sur-vive from a hatching of a dozen eggs. The young soonbecome tolerably tame, and answer to the call of theperson who feeds them : when fully fledged, however,being very active birds, they are apt to stray away; andif left with their pinions unmutilated, generally, in time,fly entirely off; although they sometimes return
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Keywords: ., bookauthorrichmondch, bookcentury1800, booksubjectanimalbehavior
