SHOVELLER NESTING. 55 



copper-brown, except the head, which was tinged 

 with green. Whether this specimen, which I have 

 preserved, is a variety or not, I cannot say. It may 

 be but the usual change of colour common to the 

 male bird in the nesting season. 



Shovellers breed in several parts of Ireland. At 

 Abbeyleix, in Queen's County, they are common, 

 and breed regularly (Hon. B. Fitzpatrick). In the 

 county Dublin (the only instance in that district), 

 two young Shovellers with the parent bird were 



THE SHOVELLER. 



shot in the brick ponds at Baldoyle, July 24, 1876, 

 and are preserved in the Dublin Museum. The 

 Shoveller breeds also on Lough Derg (Shannon) ; 

 Mr. Kinahan shot seven young ones near Portumna ; 

 though not common, these birds occur on the south- 

 east and south coast of Ireland and the rivers and 

 lakes adjoining. They are often shot near Wexford, 

 Waterford, Dungarvan, Cork, and Bandon. In the 



