152 BIRDS OF ILLINOIS. 



another similar stripe beneath the last, beginning a little behind the posterior border of 

 the eye, and extending farther back than the one above it. 



Total length, about 20.00 inches; extent, 31.00 to 33.00 inches; wing, 9.00-10.00; culmen, 

 2.60-2.90; width of bill at end, 1.10-1.20, at base, .60; tarsus, 1.40-1.50; middle toe, 1.65-1.75. 

 Specimens vary considerably in colors: usually the white of the chest and scapulars is 

 nearly or quite immaculate ; but not infrequently these portions are more or less spotted 

 with dusky. The chestnut of the abdomen is sometimes immaculate, sometimes barred 

 with dusky. 



"Winters from southern Illinois southward; breeds abundantly 

 in the Northern States and Manitoba, and sparingly in Texas, 

 northern Illinois, and Kansas. Breeds in great numbers at 

 Heron Lake, Minn. Its time of migration is one or two days 

 behind that of the Gad wall." (Cooke.) 



The Shoveller has probably the most extensive range of any 

 species of the duck tribe, being found throughout the northern 

 hemisphere as well as in Australia. Its habits presenting 

 nothing particularly distinctive, it is unnecessary to describe them 

 particularly here. It breeds in the northern part of the State, 

 or at least did so formerly. Mr. B. F. Goss found a nest near 

 Pewaukee, Wisconsin, on a small island in Horicon Lake, some 

 five feet above the water. "The Mallards were all around within 

 a few feet. As the ground was quite bare, with merely a few 

 rocks scattered about, the birds could be seen from the water 

 sitting on their nests. On his first approach he noticed the 

 Spoon-bill rising with the rest; and after examining the nests, 

 selected one that was somewhat smaller than the others, with 

 smaller eggs, and lined with feathers of a little different shade, 

 as the Spoon-bill's nest. He set a small stake to mark the 

 place, and retired until the birds returned to their eggs, when 

 he again approached, watching carefully the indicated spot, and 

 had the good fortune to kill the bird as she rose. The nest 

 contained ten eggs, quite fresh, a little smaller than the Mal- 

 lard's, from which they differed somewhat in color and in shape." 

 ( Water Birds of North America.) 



Genus AIX Boie. 



Aix Boie, Isis, 1828, 329. Type, Anas sponsa Linn. 



Dendronessa Swains. F. B.-A. ii, 1831, 446. Type Anas galerlculata Linn. 

 Lampronessa Wagl. Isis, 1832, 282. Type, Anas sponsa LlNN. 



Uosmonessa Reich. Syst. Av. 1849, pi. 9. Type, Anas sponsa Linn. (Nee Cosmonetta 

 Kaup. 1829.) 



