COMMON SHOVELLER. 129 



Jerdon states it to be common over all India. In 

 North America we have descriptions both in Wilson 

 and Audubon, and the Prince of Canino has placed 

 it as identical with our native bird. Mr. Audubon 

 considers it scarce in the United States ; " and al- 

 though many pass north and breed in the fur coun- 

 tries, a greater number spend the summer in the 

 Texas and the districts farther westward; they 

 were found breeding in Texas in the month of May. 

 Dr. Smith brought the shoveller from Africa, * and 

 Mr. Temminck records it from Japan, so that its 

 range seems more extensive than almost any other 

 British species. 



Bill black, the head and neck in some lights ap- 

 pear brown, in others, rich green, but anterior t<? 

 the eyes, and on the crown and throat, there is the 

 least reflection of the bright colour ; lower parts of 

 the neck, breast, scapulars and sides of the rump, 

 pure white ; back blackish brown, gradually shading 

 to greenish black on the rump and upper tail-covers ; 

 whole of the wing anterior to the greater covers with 

 the outer webs of the large scapulars, greyish blue ; 

 the latter have a remarkable form, the inner white 

 web being produced in a narrow point beyond the 

 outer ; the lower scapulars are blackish green, the 

 tips along the shafts for a narrow space, white ; lesser 

 covers clove-brown with white tips, secondaries 

 bright green; belly, vent, and flanks, chestnut- 

 brown; under tail-covers glossy blackish green; 

 tail clove-brown, with pale edges. 

 * Yarrell. 



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