OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 377 



in Asia are Persia, India, Ceylon, China and Japan. Those in America are the 

 Southern States, the West Indies, Mexico, and Central America, south to Panama. 

 A specimen has been obtained at Cape Town, another in the Canaries, whilst we 

 find it also recorded from Borneo and Australia. 



Allied forms. None of sufficient propinquity to call for special notice. 

 Bepresentative species occur as follows : Spatula platalea, Neotropical region ; 

 S. capensis, Ethiopian region ; S. rhynchotis, Australian region. 



Habits. The migration of the Shoveler to our islands from more Arctic 

 latitudes commences in September and continues through October to November. 

 The return journey commences in April and lasts well into May, and in some 

 countries continues right through the latter month into June. It was first noticed 

 in the valley of the Petchora, near the Arctic Circle, by Messrs. Harvie-Brown 

 and Seebohm on the 19th of June ; and by the latter gentleman one day earlier 

 in the valley of the Yenisei, in the same latitude. These dates are late even for 

 the Arctic regions, and the species was probably overlooked upon its first arrival. 

 It arrives at its winter quarters in India towards the end of October and the 

 beginning of November, and leaves during April and May. Its migrations are 

 almost invariably performed during night, and the bird does not appear to con- 

 gregate in very large parties for the purpose. Although the Shoveler occasionally 

 visits the low-lying coasts, it is a thorough fresh-water species, and loves to 

 frequent lakes and large sheets of water, ponds and slow-running rivers. In our 

 islands it is certainly a shy, suspicious bird, keeping well out in the centre of the 

 water if human intruders be lurking about ; but in India it is one of the tamest 

 of Ducks. Hume states that in the North-west Provinces it may be met with 

 in pairs on almost every village pond, even those of the filthiest description, little 

 more than cesspools, being frequented until scarcely a drop of liquid filth remains 

 as the hot season approaches. Here on these ponds it is often as tame as the 

 domestic Ducks, and when approached merely waddles into the water and swims 

 out from shore, seldom rising until fired at, and then usually returning after a 

 circle or two in the air. The Shoveler is not very gregarious, and even when a 

 flock is congregated on some certain favoured pool the birds are usually scattered 

 about in pairs or in very small groups. This Duck almost constantly keeps to 

 shallow water close inshore, only swimming farther out when alarmed, and may 

 usually be seen dabbling about in the mud, or with head and neck under the 

 surface seeking for food. The peculiar habit of a pair of birds feeding whilst swim- 

 ming round in circles with their heads in the centre is graphically described from 

 personal observation by Professor Newton. Sometimes they may be seen standing 

 on the bank preening their plumage, or dozing with their head twisted round and 

 nearly buried in the dorsal plumage. This species walks in the usual waddling 

 manner, but the body is carried somewhat erect, and sometimes the bird runs rather 



