SHOVELLER 337 



obtained since. A pair bred in a boggy wood called 

 Birchett, in 1905 and 1906. Some nests were generally 

 to be found in other large woods in the neighbourhood. 



Genus SPATULA, Boie. 



SHOVELLEE. 



Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). S.N., i., p. 200 

 (17G6). 



The majority of Shovellers are only winter visitors to 

 Kent, keeping to the sea-coast and estuaries, but a few 

 remain to breed. 



Boys includes it in his Birds of Sandwich, 1792. 

 The Eev. J. Pemberton Bartlett, in 1844, states that it 

 is "common in Eomney Marsh." Of late years it may 

 be looked upon as a rare bird. It was obtained at 

 Fordwich by Mr. W. Kennet. It is now rare according 

 to Mr. G. Dowker in the Stourmouth district. It visits 

 the Eainham Marshes, according to Mr. W. Prentis. The 

 Eev. C. H. Fielding states that it was found at Cobham 

 in 1881, and at Boughton Monchelsea in 1885. 



There are two specimens, a male, an immature bird, 

 taken by Mr. H. Payne on August 1, 1898, at Gillingham, 

 and a female at the same place and date, in the Maidstone 

 Museum. 



Dr. N. F. Ticehurst, in the Zoologist, 1900, says : " On 

 May 3 last (1900) I put up a pair of Shovellers from a 

 I)iece of water in Eomney Marsh ; I got a good view of 

 these through my glasses, and saw them a second time 

 about half an hour later, when they flew back over my 

 head. I searched the neighbouring rush, tufts, &c., but 

 was unable to find any nest. On going back, however, 

 22 



