Descrijjtive Lwt of the Conimon Birds 



bird. (Illus. I. D., p. 114; also I. G. III., 

 P- 123.) 



230. Spatula clyfeata : The Shoveller. (F. 

 1602), (J. 957), (-V.) 



This handsome duck, although it occurs in 

 jhils, is pre-eminently a village duck. If there 

 be any considerable piece of stagnant water 

 near a village in N. India, there are likely to 

 be some shoveller ducks on this — in winter, 

 for they are only winter visitors to India. 

 This species is distinguishable from other 

 ducks by its great flat bill being much broader 

 at the tip than at the base. It has a pecuHar 

 habit of swimming in circles with its bill rest- 

 ing on the surface of the water. 



Cock, after February : Head and upper neck 

 glossy green. Lower neck and breast white. 

 Abdomen chestnut. Rest of body brown with 

 a green patch or speculum in the wing. 



Cock before February^ and Hen : Reddish 

 brown with a lighter-coloured border to many 

 of the feathers. (Illus. I. D., p. 196 ; also I. G. 

 III., p. 141.) 



231. Podicipes albipennis : The Indian Little 

 Grebe, or Dabchick. (F. 1617), (J. 975), ( + IL) 



This is one of the most aquatic birds in 

 existence. It rarely walks on terra firma, and 

 227 



