88 OUR MIGRANT BIRDS 



brown, edged with paler brown. Breast and belly 

 blackish, with whitish crescentic markings ; under 

 tail-coverts bluish black. Bill greenish yellow. Legs 

 and feet orange-yellow. Length 21 in. Female : head 

 and upper neck light brown, spotted with darker brown ; 

 upper parts brown, with pale edges ; under parts white ; 

 speculum white. Young : reddish brown above, speckled 

 with darker brown ; speculum white. 



Language. — Rather like the Mallard's. 



Habits. — Flight very rapid, the pointed wings being 

 conspicuous. It is a night-feeder, and rather a skulker. 



Food. — Grain, seeds, and various vegetable matters ; 

 also tadpoles, small fish, &c. 



Nest. — May. One brood. 



Site. — On the ground under a bush, or amongst rushes 

 and sedges near water. 



Materials. — Grass, leaves, and rushes ; lined with down 

 like the Mallard's. 



£"^^5. — Eight to thirteen. Creamy or huffish white. 



SHOVELLER {Spatula clypeata). 



A winter visitor. It remains to breed regularly in 

 small numbers in the eastern counties of Scotland, on the 

 east coast of England, and more sparingly in the southern 

 and western counties ; not uncommon in Ireland where 

 suitable. 



Haunts. — Sheltered lakes, &c., not caring so much for 

 open water. 



Observation. — Distinct on account of the broadly 

 spatulated bill. 



Plumage. — Head green ; neck and scapulars white. 

 Back dark brown ; scapulars pale blue ; greater wing- 



