BLUE-WINGED SHOVEL-BILL. 79 



bill along the ridge 2-^^ ; wing from flexure 9 ; tail 3^ ; 

 tarsus 1^ ; middle toe 1-/^, its claw ■^. 



Variations. — Very great differences as to size occur in 

 this species ; but as it is of rare occurrence with us, I cannot 

 specify instances. Great variations also occur as to colour ; 

 but they depend upon the gradual change of plumage which 

 takes place in autumn, at which season the male assumes the 

 appearance of the female, but resumes his proper colours by 

 the beginning of winter. 



Habits. — Not having met with this bird alive, I am not 

 qualified to give an account of its habits, of which, however, 

 it is expedient to state what little can be obtained from the 

 most approved authors. All our writers agree in considering 

 it of rare occurrence in England, where it is met with chiefly 

 in winter, and for the most part in the eastern counties. 

 Some pairs, it is said, remain and breed in the marshy parts 

 of the county of Norfolk. To the north of the Humber it is 

 very seldom met with, and in Scotland no authentic instance 

 of its occurrence at any season has come to my knowledge. 

 Messrs. Baikie and Heddle, however, state that a male was 

 shot in Sanday, in Orkney, by Mr. Strang, on the 24th May, 

 1833 ; and that in the state formerly named the Red-breasted 

 Shoveller is not unfrequently seen on the lochs there. Mr. 

 Thompson states that it is " a regular winter visitant to some 

 parts of Ireland." It resides in marshes, and on lakes and 

 rivers, seldom occurring on the sea-coast, feeds occasionally 

 on vegetable substances, but chiefly on fresh-water mollusca, 

 worms, and insects, for sifting which from among the mud 

 its bill is obviously adapted. But neither in this nor in any 

 other Duck do the lamellse of the two mandibles fit into each 

 other, as many authors allege. It is impossible that they 

 should, for those of the lower are always more slender and 

 much more numerous than those of the upper mandible, and 

 when the bill is closed pass within the upper, without inter- 

 mingling with them. 



Although uncommon in Britain, it is said to be plentiful 

 in Holland, as well as in France and Germany. It is also 



