42 EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



it is about the size of that of the Teal, but not of so warm a brown 

 in colour, and its most striking characteristic is the peculiar long 

 white tips, which are much more conspicuous even than those 

 on the down of the Wigeon and Shoveller. 



THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL. 



(Anas discors.)* 



Out of four supposed occurrences of this Duck in Great Britain, 



only one record, from Dumfries, is believed to be authentic. It is 



an inhabitant of North America, and its eggs do not differ from 



those of the Garganey. 



THE SHOVELLEB. 



(Anas clypeata.)\ 



Plate 13, Fig. 2. 



The Shoveller is a well-known winter visitor to the British 

 Islands, many remaining behind in spring to breed in suitable 

 localities. It is a circumpolar bird, breeding in the Arctic Kegions 

 of both hemispheres about as far north as lat. 68° ; south of 

 lat. 50° it breeds more sparingly, but there are probably few parts 

 of its winter range in which a few do not remain to nest. On the 

 American continent it is rarely found breeding below lat. 50°, and 

 it winters in the Southern States, the West Indies, Mexico, and 

 Central America. 



The Shoveller is a somewhat late breeder. Eggs are seldom found 

 in this country before the middle of May, and in high latitudes 

 not until the middle of June. The nest is generally found in the 

 open, well concealed in long grass or heath, and is very skilfully 

 made. The depression in which it is placed, if deep, is only 

 slenderly lined with dead grass or sedge ; but if shallow, a con- 

 siderable amount of material is collected to give the nest the 

 required depth. The eggs are pale bumsh-white, almost of the 

 same colour as those of the Garganey, but with the faintest pos- 

 sible trace of olive. They vary in length from 2 - 2 inches to 1'8 

 inch, and in breadth from 1*6 to 1'4 inch. The down, like that of 

 nearly all Ducks, has pale centres, but, unlike that of the Long- 



* Querqucdula discors — Saunders, Manual, p. 422; Sharpe, Handb., II., p. 294. 

 f Spatula clypeata — Saunders, Manual, p. 415 ; Sharpe, Handb., II., p. 265. 



