258 ALLEN'S NATURALIST'S LIBRARY. 



Shoveler with any other species of Duck have been recorded, 

 though Von Tschusi has mentioned an instance of its mating 

 with a Domestic Duck. 



Characters. The flattened form of the Shoveler's bill, widened 

 at the end, and " spatulate," as it is called, as well as the 

 blue wing-coverts, and the green speculum in the wing, dis- 

 tinguish this species. 



Kange in Great Britain. A few pairs breed annually in England, 

 especially in parts of Norfolk, where the Ducks are protected, 

 as well as in the marsh-lands of other parts of England and 

 Scotland. It nests on the island of Tiree, where Colonel 

 Irby has found it, but not on the Outer Hebrides. In many 

 localities it is increasing in numbers as a breeding-bird, and 

 the same may be said of Ireland, where, according to Mr. 

 Ussher, it nests sparingly in Donegal, Antrim, Fermanagh, 

 Westmeath, Louth, Dublin, Queen's County, Galway f Ros- 

 common, Mayo, and Sligo, and probably in King's County 

 and Kerry. During the winter the species occurs in most 

 parts of Great Britain. 



Range outside the British Islands. The Shoveler is found, in 

 America, as well as in the Old World, and breeds in temperate 

 North America, visiting the United States in winter, and ex- 

 tending as far south as Panama. In Europe it does not go 

 so far north as some of the other Ducks, and is a species of 

 the temperate portions of Europe and Asia, visiting Northern 

 Africa, India, and China in winter. It has been procured in 

 Borneo, and seems to wander as far south as Australia. 



Habits. This species is more of a fresh-water Duck than 

 many of its relations, and frequents marshes and inland lakes, 

 where it searches in the shallows for the food which its broad 

 bill enables it easily to sift, as it consists of tender shoots of 

 grass and weeds, as well as aquatic insects and small molluscs, 

 while it is also said to include tadpoles, frogs' spawn, and very 

 small fish. As a rule, it is not so shy as other Ducks, and, in 

 its winter quarters in India, it is described by Mr. Hume as 

 being very tame. The female is a devoted mother, and watches 

 over her brood with great anxiety, while Mr. Whitaker states 

 that he has found the male bird sitting on the eggs. When 

 flying, the bird is said by Mr. Seebohm to utter a guttural note, 



