THE SHOVELEK 311 



quills and central feathers of the tail dusky; 

 outer tail feathers silvery gray or white. Bill 

 blackish, about two and three-quarters inches 

 long and one and one-quarter inches wide at the 

 broadest part which is near the tip. Feet light 

 orange and small in proportion to the size of the 

 bird, as becomes an aristocrat among water- 

 fowl. Iris bright orange, almost red, in the 

 male; in the female yellow. 



The female is not widely different from the 

 female mallard in her coloring except for the 

 bluish cast of the wing coverts, but, of course, 

 may be at once distinguished by the remarkable 

 bill. Her wing markings are much like the 

 drake's though not quite so brilliant. Head and 

 neck brownjsh yellow with dusky specklings. 

 Throat pale buff. Faint traces of the chestnut 

 below. Feet and legs paler than male's. 



These birds in their breeding dress are not 

 common here; as they are usually taken in the 

 fall, the only legitimate shooting season, they 

 are not nearly so brilliant as when in the spring 

 plumage, the fall dress being a much soberer 

 suit than the wedding garments. Perhaps 

 the bird's own mood has taken on a different 

 hue. 



