SHOVELLER 



219 



the other and then the leader will swing round in an ellipse, turning and 

 following the hindmost, each one apparently straining through its bill 

 the water stirred by the paddling feet of the one before it. Thus round 

 and round they go with chattering bills, each one apparently enjoying 

 the guttering exercise and getting some sustenance from the disturbed 

 and turgid element." 



The animal food of the Shoveller amounts to about one-third of its 

 total diet. This is a higher percentage than is consumed by any of the 

 other surface feeders, except the Florida and Mottled Ducks, whose 

 animal food amounts to about 41 per cent. An examination of the 

 stomach contents of 70 Shovellers taken from August to April, inclu- 

 sive, the largest numbers being taken in November and February, 

 gave the following approximate percentages: chiefly the seeds: of sedges, 

 16; of pond weeds, 11; of grasses, 8; algae, 7; of water lilies, 3; of duck- 

 weeds, 2; of smartweeds, 1; indeterminate material, an appreciable part 

 of which is macerated plant debris which forms an important item of 

 bottom ooze, 18; total vegetable food, 66 per cent. Molluscs, 19; water 

 bugs, 4; water beetles, caddis and dragon fly larvae and nymphs, and 

 other insects, 4; fishes, 3; crustaceans and miscellaneous, 4; total animal 

 food, 34 per cent. 



The courtship of the Shoveller is performed both in the air arid on 

 the water. Spirited aerial flights are undertaken in which one female is 

 pursued by two or three drakes; they circle and twist in their erratic 

 flight very much after the 

 manner of the teals. On the 

 water the performance is not 

 very demonstrative; the male 

 swims slowly up to the fe- 

 male uttering his love notes 

 of chu-uck chu-uck, varied, 

 but not improved, by an 

 occasional konk, konk, at the 

 same time elevating his head 

 and jerking his bill upwards. 

 The female responds quickly 

 with bows of recognition and 

 they both proceed to swim 

 slowly around in circles, one 

 behind the other, with water 

 running through their bills. 



The female Shoveller, 

 and one would never think it 

 of her, indulges in the luxury 

 of two husbands. Polyandry is 

 very prevalent with this spe- 

 cies and the amiability with 

 which this unusual matrimo- 

 nial arrangement is accepted 



