28 WARM-WEATHER BIRDS. 
India Islands. The first flight of this duck puts in-an 
appearance after the ice has entirely departed from 
the shallow lakes and sloughs. It is never found in 
great numbers, yet the ducks keep together in small 
flocks during their northern flight. The late issues 
drift through in greater or lesser quantities. During 
the fall migrations they mix with the bald-pates and 
pintails, owing, I suppose, to all of them using the 
same grounds at that season of the year. The first 
issue forms the principal one recognized, the others 
drift downward, rarely staying long in a place. 
The feeding grounds are in shallow lakes, ponds, 
sloughs, musquaids, etc. The roosting grounds are 
very similar to those of the pintail and bald-pate. 
The playing ground is among lily and. lotus beds, 
tufts of smartweed where open water exists; in buck- 
brush and inlets surrounded by timber and brush. 
For food, see chart. 
Their call is a feeble quack, they are easy to decoy 
and shoot. Their clutch is from eight to ten creamy 
white eggs. Length 22; wing 10.50; tarsus 1.60; ex- ' 
tent 34.00; middle toe 1.80. 
Genus Spatula. 
Spatula clypeata—SPoon BILL SHOVELLER.—Habitat. 
—North America at large, to West Indian Islands; north 
to British Possessions. The migratory flights of this 
duck do not appear well marked; they being unequally 
distributed year by year. The first issue in the spring 
is well defined, occurring about the same time as the 
bald-pates and gadwalls, after the ice has entirely left 
the sloughs. The other issues are gradual driftings; 
