SHOVELLER DUCK. 219 



and the sides, of which, hov/ever, the feathers are 

 margined with dusky ; the middle of the breast 

 white. Smaller wing-coverts dull brownish-gray ; 

 alula and primaries as in the male; inner 

 secondaries brownish-black ; the speculum as in 

 the male, but paler, and changing to blue; the 

 secondary coverts tipped with white. Tail nearly 

 as in the male. 



Length to end of tail, 17 inches; extent of 

 wings, 291- ; weight, 1 pound 1 ounce. 



Spoonbills are seldom found in large numbers, 

 but opportunities for shooting them will frequent- 

 ly occur when in the pursuit of other fowl. 

 They associate with mallards when feeding, and 

 their notes sound much alike. They fly very 

 closely and irregularly together, and when a 

 small flock comes to the decoys (for they decoy 

 and come to the mallard call exceedingly well), 

 the experienced hunter usually counts on secur- 

 ing fully half their number. A very slight 

 blow brings them down. In fact, I have fre- 

 quently seen whole flocks of five to eight indi- 

 viduals killed with both barrels. They are very 

 poor divers, even w^hen wounded, and try to 

 escape by hiding, if possible. It is commonly 

 easy to approach them within favorable distance. 



