THE BIRD BOOK 



^^^ 



li2. Shoveller. Spatula clypeata. 



Range.- — Whole of North America, breeding in 

 the interior from Texas nortliward. 



This strikingly marked Duck is twenty inches 

 in length, has a green head and speculum, blue 

 wing coverts and chestnut belly. The bill is long 

 and broad at the tip. It makes its nest on the 

 ground in marshy places, of grass, weeds and 



Dull olive gray 



Lead gray 



feathers. Six to ten eggs constitute a complete 

 set. They are greenish or leaden gray color. 

 Sir;e 2.10 x 1.50. Data. — Graham's Island, North 

 Dakota, May 28, 1899. Nest of dead weed stems 

 and grass, lined with down. Ten eggs. Collector, 

 1']. S. Bryant. 



lis. Pintail. Dafila acuta. 



Range. — Northern Hemisphere, breeding in 

 North America from northern United States north- 

 ward, wintering south to Panama. This species, 

 which is also known as the Sprig-tail, is very 

 common in the United States in the 

 spring and fall migrations. It is about 

 thirty inches long, its length depend- 

 ing upon the development of the tail 

 feathers, the central ones of which are 

 long and pointed. They breed casual- 

 ly in many sections of the United 

 States, but in abundance from Mani- 

 toba to the Arctic Ocean. They nest 

 near the water, laying from six to 

 twelve eggs of dull olive color. Size 

 2.20 X 1.50. Data. — Graham's Island, 

 Devil's Lake, N. Dakota, June 15, 1900. 

 Ten eggs. Nest on the ground, of 

 weeds, lined with down. Colony breed- 

 ing. Collector, E. S. Bryant. 



94 



