SPATULA.—NYROCA. 219 
Valley of Mexico(Herrera } 1), Cosamaloapam (Boucard’) ; GuaveMA.a, Duefias® &, 
Huamachal 5 (0. 8.); Costa Rica (v. Frantzius 8)—Cotompia ©; West Inpizs 8, — 
NortHern Evrope anp Asta, extending southward in winter to N. Africa, India. 
and China }, 
The Common Shoveler is an inhabitant of the temperate portions of the Old 
and New Worlds, just entering the subarctic regions during the breeding-season ; 
it is much more plentiful in the Western United States than in the Eastern, and is 
found in winter both on the inland lakes and waters, as well as on the Pacific coast. 
S. clypeata occurs throughout Central America in winter, and reaches as far south as 
Colombia ; the species is very common in the vicinity of Mazatlan from November to 
May, and in Guatemala we met with it on the Lake of Duefias during this season, 
the birds taking their departure about the end of March. 
In habits and food this Shoveler does not differ from the typical Ducks, but it is 
said to be especially fond of insect-food. The nest is generally placed in a tussock of 
reeds, or concealed amongst rushes &c., the depression being lined with dead grass or 
sedge and also with down. The eggs are from seven to nine in number, and of a 
pale greenish-grey colour. 
Subfam. FULIGULINA. 
In this subfamily are contained the typical Diving-Ducks, which have the hind toe 
broadly lobed, and a somewhat flattened and depressed bill. They differ from the 
Erismaturine, which are also Diving-Ducks, in their softer and more flexible tail- 
feathers. 
The Pochards and Golden-eyes, which represent the Fuliguline in Central America, 
are all species which breed in northern latitudes and are found within our limits 
only in winter. 
NYROCA. 
Nyroca, Fleming, Phil. Zool. i. p. 260 (1822); Salvad. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 334 (1893). 
Aythya, Boie, Isis, 1822, p. 564; Sharpe, Hand-list Birds, i. p. 222 (1899). 
The Pochards, and all the other Diving-Ducks, may be distinguished from the 
Anatine by the length of their toes as compared with the tarsus, and by the broad 
lobe on the hind toe. ‘The bill is more slender than in the Scaup-Ducks (Fuligula), 
being about as wide at the base as it is near the tip. The tail-feathers are normal 
and not much stiffened. Hight species of Pochard are known, of which two are 
peculiar to North America, these visiting our region in winter. 
28* 
