SHOVELLER 129 



but upon Urst arrival iii the spring and Avhcn leaving in the fall 

 larger flocks are common. It is, however, to be observed that even in 

 flocks the individuals consociate in pairs. 



The food of the Cinnamon Teal, as well as its method of feeding, 

 is like that of otlier teals. In the shallow water along the borders of 

 ponds it may be seen "tilting" in its attempt to obtain insects and 

 seeds from the mud on the bottom. It is often seen searching for food 

 in the grass on shore. 



The Cinnamon Teal is usually rated as inferior to other teal as 

 a table duck. However this may be, this bird was, in the early days, 

 killed in numbers for the market. Its flesh is said to be sweet and 

 full of blood (like a dove's), but its keeping qualities are poor. As 

 the Cinnamon Teal migrates south in September and October, being 

 almost altogether gone before the opening of the shooting season, it 

 receives a much greater degree of protection than in the case of resi- 

 dent or wintering ducks. So long as suitable breeding places are 

 furnished this duck, and so long as conditions in its winter home 

 remain favorable, it will, therefore, continue to be a common species. 

 The great amount of land reclamation which is now being carried 

 on would seemingly tend to reduce the appropriate nesting grounds 

 to a minimum, so that the breeding species of ducks might either be 

 driven elsewhere or might be correspondingly reduced in numbers. 

 On the other hand the construction of irrigation canals and reservoirs, 

 with their overflow seepages, must to a considerable extent counter- 

 balance the above tendenc3^ The Cinnamon Teal can be credited with 

 an esthetic value, because of its natural tameness and beautiful 

 plumage ; and it is to be hoped that its existence as a regular member 

 of our avifauna will never be endangered. 



Shoveller 

 Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus) 



Other xames — Spoonbill; Spoonie; Bynchaspis clypeata. 



Description — Adult male: Whole head and neck metallic green with violet 

 reflections at certain angles; top of head, throat and area about base of bill 

 approaching dull black or brown and showing least of metallic lustre; 

 b^ll almost black, lower mandible paler; iris yellow; middle of back slate 

 brown, each feather edged with white or light brown; rump and upper tail 

 coverts black, with metallic green lustre; tail feathers brown, conspicuously 

 edged with white; front portion of outer surface of closed wing clear light 

 blue; primaries slate brown; speculum brilliant metallic green bordered in 

 front by white bar which separates speculum from blue area; innermost secon- 

 daries black, tinged with metallic green and each with a streak of white towards 

 tip; scapulars long, and streaked with white and black or brown; under 

 surface of wing and axillars mostly pure white; whole breast pure white, 

 sometimes obscured by a brownish stain and not infrequently showing black 

 spottings; this broad white area almost completely encircling the body as a 



