350 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



was discovered not long after that hour by the aid 

 of my binoculars. Sits closely. 



SHELDRAKE, COMMON. See SHELDRAKE. 



SHOVELLER. 



{Spatula clypeata.} 

 Order ANSERES ; Family ANATID^E (DUCKS). 



Description of Parent Birds. -Length about 

 twenty inches. Bill rather long, narrow in the 

 middle, and widening towards the tip, nearly 

 straight, and leaden grey. Irides yellow. Head 

 and upper part of neck deep glossy green, lower 

 part of neck white. Back, in the centre, blackish- 

 brown, the feathers being edged with a lighter tint. 

 Lesser wing-coverts light blue, greater white ; 

 scapulars white, quills brownish-black. The specu- 

 lum, or glossy patch upon the wing, is green. Rump, 

 upper tail-coverts, and tail-feathers brownish-black. 

 Breast and belly chestnut ; vent white ; under tail- 

 coverts black. Legs, toes, and webs reddish-orange ; 

 claws black. 



The female differs considerably from the male, 

 having her head and neck mottled with two shades 

 of brown ; the feathers on the upper surface of the 

 body are dark brown in the centre, bordered with 

 a lighter shade of the same colour. Under-parts 

 of the body pale brown. 



Situation and Locality. In tufts of grass, rushes, 

 and heath beside sluggish rivers, lakes, broads, 

 tarns, and swampy heaths, in favourable situations 

 on the eastern coast of England ; in Wales, Scot- 

 land and Ireland. 



