CATALOGUE OF VERTEBRATES. 618 



neck white, streaked with dusky ; upper parts dusky grayish 

 brown, barred with dull white. Length, 20 inches; tarsus, H 

 inches. 



"Abundant in spring and again in autumn. Both a 'shore' 

 and inland species. When seen inland, are usually accompanied 

 by ' sprig-tails.' Are easily stooled by imitating their whistle- 

 Hke call. A few breed in the State." 



SPATULA, Boie. 

 S. clypeata, L. Shoveller. Spoon-bill Duck. 



Bill much widened towards tip ; male, head and neck dark 

 bluish green; breast white; lower parts chestnut; under tail 

 coverts greenish ; wing coverts bluish ; tail speculum green ; bill 

 black ; iris yellow ; feet orange red ; female, wings as in male, 

 rest of plumage grayish brown, varied with whitish ; head and 

 neck brownish white and streaked ; lower parts spotted with 

 dusky; bill brown and orange. Length, 19 inches; bill, 2f 

 inches. 



" Not abundant, single specimens generally being found with 

 other ducks. Most abundant during May and October. Does 

 not breed in the State. Is more frequently seen inland than 

 along the sea-board." 



DAPILA, Steph. 



D. acuta, L. Sprig-tail. Pin-tail. 



Male, head and neck brown ; hind-neck black ; back and sides 

 waved with white and dusky; speculum green to purple; a 

 cinnamon bar on grayish wing coverts ; tail pointed. Length, 

 28 inches. In breeding season, much like female. Female, lower 

 part of head dull white, streaked with dusky ; lower parts chiefly 

 white ; upper parts grayish dusky, with irregular yellowish bars ; 

 neck whitish, streaked with black. Length, 22 inches; tail, 9 

 inches or less. 



" During the spring, on their way to the breeding-grounds, 

 and on their return in autumn, they scatter about the State inland 

 and along the shore. They associate with other ducks, and 

 seldom fly in large flocks of their own kind." 



