'28 COMMON SHOVELLER. 



terers. Mr. Selby states that it has been known to 

 breed in the vicinity of the Tweed, and possesses a 

 specimen killed in July in intermediate or changing 

 plumage. We recollect once seeing the nest and 

 eggs, along with the female, brought in to the late 

 Mr. Wilson, janitor to the Edinburgh University, 

 a most zealous observer of our native birds, and one 

 to whom we are indebted for much of our early in- 

 information regarding British birds. This was pro- 

 cured somewhere about Guillon Links on the Firth 

 of Forth, where there was then a good deal of marsh 

 and small reedy pools of water ; the same person 

 occasionally also received specimens during summer 

 from some correspondents in the fenny countries. 



In its habits it is an inland bird, so far as we 

 know being seldom seen at sea ; Audubon considers 

 it as " promiscuous in its feeding," and states that 

 it never procures its food by semi-immersions, nor 

 does it dive unless when hard pressed. 



In America it is much esteemed for the table, 

 and Audubon remarks, that " no one should pass a 

 shoveller to shoot a canvas-back." In olden times 

 they seem also to have been more in request than 

 now, perhaps more easily procured. In the poetry 

 of Howard, Earl of Surrey, the second course for his 

 Grace the Duke of Norfolk, is made to contain, 

 among other fowl, four seapeys, two shovellers, 

 &c. * 



Out of Europe we find the shoveller in Asia ; Mr 



* Dublin University Mag. for Nov. 1841. Early English 

 Poeta, 



