596 



THE SHOVELLER. 



During migrations the Shoveller appears usually in small flocks of its 

 own species, or in company with Bluebills. It is occasionally seen upon the 

 smaller ponds and rivers, and in its summer and winter haunts will explore 

 the tiniest ditches and pools. 



Dr. Wheaton supposed that these birds nested in the northern part of 

 the state, and they may have done so ; but their present breeding range lies al- 

 most entirely within the northern tier 

 of western states and ^^^^^^^ further north to 

 Alaska. The nest is ^^^^ ^^^^^. an unpretentious 

 depression lined with ^^^ ^^^^ grasses and 

 down, and is ^T ^^^ placed either 

 near water ^T ^^ o r remote 

 from it, on a J ^^ tiny islet, 

 in a conveni- M ^k ent corner 

 of the M ^L swamp, or 

 anywhere m ^L in open 

 country. 



Taken at Buckeye Lake. 

 Photo by the Author. 



A FAVORITE FEEDING GROUND. 



