234 INDIAN DUCKS 



Genus SPATULA. 



The genus SjxitulK is distinguished from all other genera, except 

 the Australian Malacorhynchus, by the shape of the bill, which is 

 broadly spatulate, being about twice as broad at the subtip as it is 

 at the base. There are four species, whose range is practically 

 cosmopolitan, but only one is represented in India, viz., the Common 

 Shoveller. 



The lamellae are very long, thin, and prominent, and the edges 

 of the upper mandible are much turned down on the terminal 

 quarter. 



The tail-feathers number fourteen in both sexes. 



(36) SPATULA CLYPEATA. 

 THE SHOVELLER. 



Anas clypeata, Limi. S. N. x. eel. i, p. 124 (1758) (Soutii Sweden). 



Spatula clypeata, J,t<]oii. B. of I. iii, p. 796; Hnmc, S. F. i, p. 260; 

 All, nil; ihid. p. 402 ; lUitlcr, ihid. iv, p. 28 ; Scully, ibid. p. 199 ; 

 Fiiiihaiik. ihid. p. 264 ; Ball, ibid, vii, j). 232 ; Hiimr, ihid. p. 492 ; 

 id. Cat. No. 957; id. S. F. viii, p. 115 ; Sciilh/. ibid. p. 362; Legije, 

 B. of C. p. 1086 : Ilinne ,(' Mar^h. (iamc-B. iii, p. 141 ; Vidal, S. F. 

 ix, p. 92; Butler, ibid. p. 437; Fu-id, ibid, x, p. 80; Davidson, ibid. 

 p. 325; Hume, ibid. p. 417 ; Macijmior, ibid. p. 472; Barnes, B. of 

 Bom. ]). 401 ; Ilinnc, S. F. xi, p. 343 ; Salmdori, Cat. B. M. xxvii, 

 p. 306; Blanford, Arifauna B. I. iv, p. 452; Oatcs, Guine-B. ii, 

 p. 246 ; Stuart Baker, J. B. N. H. S. xii, p. 453 (1899) ; id. Lidiau 

 Ducks, p. 196 (1908). 



Description. Adult Male.— Whole head ami neck glossy-green, siiowing 

 a purple tinge in certain lights, especially on the upper parts : upper breast, 

 lower neck, outer scapulars, and outer portion of upper hack niauve-whito ; 

 a narrow centre patch from the neck brown, the feathers edged pale, in tine 

 specimens with broad wiiite edges : back brown, the feathers i)ale-edged ; 

 rump and upper tail-coverts iilack, glossed with peacock-green and blue, 



