Il8 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



aries, which are near] 3^ as long as the flights, black, with 

 broad white outer edges ; bill lead colour ; legs and feet 

 greenish grej'. Female browner and mottled. Length, 1 

 foot 8 inches. 



It is a winter visitor, frequenting the sea-coast, also 

 rivers and inland waters. Food same as the other ducks. 



The nest is placed among rushes, etc., near water, and 

 contains from five to nine eggs of clear cream colour. 



It is readily domesticated, and breeds freely in confine- 

 ment. 



Shoveller. — Bill very large and dull black ; top of neck 

 and head steel blue ; back brown, every feather with dark 

 centre and light edge ; breast and sides of back white ; 

 wing coverts pale greenish blue ; outer secondaries steel 

 blue ; inner long and pointei.1, blue, with dark grey edges ; 

 belly deep chestnut brown; vent butt"; under tail coverts 

 blue ; tail white ; legs and feet orange ; e^'c pale 3'cllow. 

 Lengtii, 1 foot 8 inches. 



Has bred in Norfolk, Scotlaiul, and elsewhere in Great 

 Britain, freijuenting marshes and inland waters. More 

 numerous in winter than summer. Food — grass, aquatic 

 insects and plants; but their diet is obtained for the most 

 part on land. 



The eggs are eight or ten in number, of a pale buff 

 colour, with a green tinge. Incubation lasts three weeks, 

 and the young take at once to the water. 



The shoveller, or shoveler, is readily domesticated, and 

 breeds freely in confinement. It is esteemed good eating 

 by connoisseurs. 



Tufted Duck. — General colour above, black, with blue 

 reflections, particularly on the head and neck ; the former 

 part is decorated with a tuft of long narrow blue feathers 

 that hang over the neck ; the back and wings are shaded 

 with brown ; the under parts are white ; and a bar of 



