176 SHOVELER. 
very dark dusky brown—nearly black; secondaries, also nearly 
black; the speculum, or spangle, very rich bright green; some 
of the tertiaries, which are long and pointed, pale blue on 
the outer webs, the others rich purple black. Tail, dusky 
brown—nearly black, edged with white, the outer feather 
entirely white; upper tail coverts, dark brown—nearly black, 
with a gloss of bronze green; under tail coverts, similar; in 
summer yellowish white, with streaks of brown. Legs and 
toes, reddish orange, yellowish orange in summer; claws, 
black; webs, darker reddish orange; in summer yellowish 
orange. 
The female has the head, crown, and neck on the back, 
pale reddish brown of two shades, the shaft streaks being 
dusky; breast, pale brownish rufous, with dusky brown spots; 
back, dusky brown, the edges and tips of the feathers of a 
paler tint, rufous white. Lesser wing coverts, tinged with 
pale blue; the speculum green. 
In the young birds at first the bill, which is scarcely 
larger than usual in proportion to their size, is not dilated, 
but in three or four weeks assumes its proper and_ peculiar 
shape. The young male resembles the female till the autumn. 
Bewick says that the full plumage is not acquired till after 
the second moult. 
There were some dark spots on the white in the specimen 
killed near York. 
The engraving is after a design by John Gatcombe, Ksq., 
of Plymouth. 
END: SOY VOTE) ivan, 
B. FAWCETT, ENGRAVER AND PRINTER, EAST LODGE, DRIFFIELD, 
