SHOVELLER. 73 



been told that a few pairs still breed there, though the number of 

 summer residents is small compared with former years. 



Dr. Macallum reports the same particulars regarding the occur- 

 rence of the species on Mohawk Island. Several couples still nest 

 there, and are. seen during the summer with their young, but, com- 

 pared with former years, the numbers are greatly reduced. Early in 

 the fall these are joined by flocks which have bred farther north, and 

 all retire to the south before the Green- winged Teal arrives. 



The species is very abundant throughout the North- West, where 

 Mr. Macoun found it exceedingly plentiful during the fall of 1880. 

 At Hudson's Bay it is mentioned as rare by Dr. Bell; and Mr. Nelson 

 says that during the four years he passed at St. Michael's he failed to 

 see a single individual of this species. In his list of Alaskan birds, 

 Mr. Dall reports it being found sparingly at Fort Yukon and the 

 Yukon mouth. 



GENUS SPATULA BOIE. 

 SPATULA CLYPEATA (LINN.). 



43. Shoveller. (142) 



Bill, much longer than head or foot, widening rapidly to the end, where it is 

 twice as wide as at the base, with very numerous and prominent laminae; head 

 and neck of male, green ; fore breast, white ; belly, purplish-chestnut ; wing 

 coverts, blue ; speculum, green, bordered with black and white ; some scapulars 

 blue, others green, all white-striped ; bill, blackish ; feet, red. Female known 

 by bill and wings. Length, 17-21 ; wing, 9J ; tail, 3 ; bill, 2. 



HAS. Northern hemisphere. In North America, breeding from Alaska to 

 Texas ; not abundant on the Atlantic coast. 



Nest, on the ground. 



Eggs, eight to ten, greenish -gray. 



An adult male Shoveller procured in the month of May makes a 

 handsome specimen for the cabinet, for there are few of our water- 

 fowl so gaily attired. The large spoonbill somewhat spoils his beauty 

 of proportion, but it serves as a distinguishing mark for individuals 

 of the species, of any age or sex. 



It is not common in Ontario, but is occasionally found by the gun- 

 ners steering up some sluggish creek, or sifting the mud along its 

 shores. Its flesh being held in high estimation for the table, it is 

 never allowed to get away when it can be stopped. 



