ANATIDJ^ — ANATIXJ^: RIVER DUCKS. 



911 



chiefly in the South ; Cuba ; casually in Europe. This exquisite bird is commonly dispersed 

 in wooded portions of the country near water ; it nests usually in hollows of trees, whence the 

 young scramble and drop out, or are transported in the bill of the parent. Eggs about 12, but 

 very variable in number (8-15), of pale bufl" or creamy color and the usual smooth shell and 

 elliptical shape, about 2.00 X 1.50. In confinement or semi-domestication, as the bird is often 

 kept for its beauty, it hybridizes freely with various other species, some of a different subfamily. 

 The pernicious s])ring shooting of tlie bird on its breeding grounds has made it rare in many 

 ))laces where it was once common. 



SPA'TULA. (Lat. spatula or spathida, a spoon, spathe, spatula : shape of bill.) Spoon-bill 

 Ducks. Bill much longer than head or tarsus, twice as wide at end as at base, broadly rounded 

 spoon-fashion at end; nail narrow and prominent; laminae very numerous and protrusive. 



Fio. 037. —Shoveller Duck, J nat. .size. (From Brelim.) 



Tail short, pointed, of 14 acute feathers. Feet small, red. The peculiarity of the bill char- 

 acterizes this genus almost as strongly as does Phttalea among Ibises, or E'uri/xorhi/nchus 

 among Sandpipers ; form otherwise that of ordinary yl««fi»re. There are several species, one 

 North American, one South American, S.platalea; one African, S. capensis ; one Australian, 

 iS". rhynchotis. 



S. clypea'ta. (Lat. clypeum, a shield: shape of bill. Fig. G.37.) Shoveller. Br.UE- 

 wix« Shoveller. Reo-breasteu Shoveller. Shovel-bill. Spoon-bill. Swaddle- 

 bill. Hroad-bill. Broadv. " Butter Duck." "Cow-frog." Adult (J: Bill black ; 

 iris orange or yellow ; feet vermilion or orange-red. Head and neck dark glossy green, like 

 the MaUard's. Lower neck and fore breast pure white. Abdomen purplish-chestuut. Wing- 

 coverts sky-blue; speculum rich green, set between white tips of greater coverts, and hlack 

 sub-tips and white tips of nocondaries ; inner secondaries greenish-black, with long white stripe ; 

 long scapulars blue on out<r webs, striped witli white and groeiiisli-black on inner; slnnt an- 

 terior sca|iulars white. Kump and up|>er and under tail-coverts black ; a white patch on each 

 side at root of tail. Adult 9: Bill dull greenish-brown above, oranue Im'Iow and at base; iris 

 yellow ; feet orantre. Wing-markings similar to those of ^ , thoii<rh imperfect ; traces of chest- 

 nut on brlly. Head and neck lin>wni.-ih-yrll(>w, speckled with dusky. Young 9 ha.s the wing- 



