244 ANATIDJ). 



of new feathers, and a change of colour in others, is very 

 remarkable in the Pintail ; and Colonel Montagu was the 

 first, I believe, to record in print the annual change which 

 takes place in that species. The change which the Mallard 

 undergoes has since been observed and described by Mr. 

 Waterton. The Shoveler and others also suffer a partial 

 change of this sort, to be hereafter noticed. The cause or 

 the utility of this change has not been explained, that I 

 am aware of. Mr. Gould says, " as we have observed that 

 this change is common to the males of those species that 

 more especially breed in marshes, among reeds, &c., and as 

 it generally takes place at the period of incubation, may it 

 not serve as a protection to the species by rendering the 

 fostering parent less conspicuous at this critical period, than 

 he would be were he to retain the gay nuptial dress, which 

 would present so strong a contrast to the sombre- tinted 

 vegetation among which it is necessary for him to remain, 

 until the young are able to provide for themselves ? But 

 to this view of the subject it may be mentioned, that as 

 soon as the females begin to sit, the males desert them, and 

 the whole charge of each young brood devolves upon the 

 female, the males going together in small flocks, intent 

 only on providing for and taking care of themselves. 



The Shoveler is to be considered generally as a winter 

 visiter to this country, but some remain every year to 

 breed. They inhabit marshes, lakes, rivers, and muddy 

 shores, selecting their food in shallow water, by the in- 

 strumentality of their sensible beak, the laminated sides of 

 which being abundantly supplied with nerves, enable them 

 to retain the nutritious, and reject the useless. They feed 

 on some grasses and other vegetables, with worms, aquatic 

 and other insects, even some insects that are winged ; 

 Gesner, on that account, called this species Anas muscaria, 



