Vol. XIXl ^^-nT, Nestinsr Hdbits of Anatichc in N.DakoUi. % 



igoi J ' * .' J 



and as incubated sets of this species are generally plentifully sup- 

 plied with down, which is sometimes sufficient to conceal the eggs 

 completely. 



The ten eggs in this set are fairly typical of the species, of a 

 dull, light cream color, considerably nest-stained, ovate to ellipti- 

 cal ovate in shape, and exhibiting the following measurements: 

 length, 1.95 to 1.86; breadth, 1.43 to 1.38; average, 1.89 by 1.41. 



Spatula clypeata {Li>i>i.). Shoveller. 



The first duck that I saw in North Dakota was a Shoveller 

 flushed from a small slough near the railroad track as we entered 

 the State, and from that time on we saw Shovellers every day in 

 all parts of the region we visited. It is one of the commonest 

 ducks, and is evenly distributed everywhere. The brilliant, strik- 

 ing plumage of the male and the long, broad bill of the female serve 

 to distinguish them at a glance from other species of ducks. They 

 frequent the same localities as the Blue-winged Teal, are equally 

 tame, and probably lay their eggs at about the same time as this 

 species. We found only two nests of the Shoveller, in spite of 

 their universal abundance. From the fact that we frequently saw 

 them flying about in pairs, I inferred that many of them do not 

 complete their sets before June 15, which would make this one of 

 the later laying species. After the sets are completed the. males 

 associate with the Mallards and Pintails in the smaller ponds and 

 open sloughs. Nearly every slough, meadow, or pond hole that 

 we visited contained one or more pairs of these handsome little 

 ducks. The charm of collecting and studying birds in this highly 

 favored region is ^greatly enhanced by constantly flushing this 

 and the other numerous species of ducks from every favorable 

 locality. We were kept in a constant state of delightful expect- 

 ancy, and were seldom disappointed. 



The nesting ground of the Shoveller is the broad expanse of 

 virgin prairie, often far away from the nearest water, sometimes 

 on high, dry ground and sometimes in moist meadow land or near 

 a slough or pond. The first nest that we found was in the center 

 of a hollow in the prairie between two knolls, where the ground 

 was moist but not actually wet, and where the grass grew thick 



