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ANAS CLYPEATA— LINN. 



SHOVELLER DUCK. 



Shovrllrr, Anas clypeata, Wils. Amer. Oil). 



Anas clypeata, l3onap. Svp. 



Anas clypeata, Shoveller, Svv. & Rich. 



Shoveller. Nuit, Man. 



Shoveller Duck, Anas clypeata, Aud. Orn. Biog, 



Specific Character — Bill brownish-black, about three inches in 

 length, near the end it is more than twice as broad as it is at the 

 base, much rounded and closely pectinated, the sides of the upper 

 mandible at the base having the appearance of a fine toothed comb. 

 Adult male with the head and the neck, (for about half its length,) 

 glossy green with purple reflections; lower part of the neck, 

 and upper part of the breast, white ; rest of the lower plumage 

 deep chesnut brown, excepting the lower tail-coverts and a band 

 across the vent, which is black, some of the feathers paitly green ; 

 flanks brownish-yellow, pencilled with black and blackish-brown; 

 inner secondaries dark green with a terminal spot cf white; outer 

 secondaries lighter green ; primaries dark brown, their shafts white, 

 with dusky tips; lesser wing-coverts light blue; speculum golden 

 green ; rump and upper tail coverts greenish-black, a patch of white 

 at the sides of the rump; tail dark brown, the feathers pointed, 

 broadly edged with white, of which color are the inner webs of the 

 three outer feathers. 



Female, with the crown dusky; upper plumage blackish-brown, 

 the feathers edged with reddish-brown; breast yellowish-white, 

 marked with semi-circular spots of white. Young male with simi- 

 lar markings on the breast. Length twenty inches and a half, 

 wing ten. 



This species is known to our gunners by the name of " Spoon- 

 bill." Occasionally it is met with along the sea coast, but is more 

 generally found in our lakes and fresh water streams. Its flesh 

 is esteemed, being tender and juicy. In this vicinity it is not abun- 

 dant. According to Mr. Audubon, it breeds from Texas west- 

 ward to the Columbia River and the Fur Countries. 



