176 SHOVELEE. 



very dark dusky brown nearly black; secondaries, also nearly 

 black; the speculum, or spangle, very rich bright green; some 

 of the tertiaries, which are long and pointed, pale blue on 

 the outer webs, the others rich purple black. Tail, dusky 

 brown -nearly black, edged with white, the outer feather 

 entirely white; upper tail coverts, dark brown nearly black, 

 with a gloss of bronze green; under tail coverts, similar; in 

 summer yellowish white, with streaks of brown. Legs and 

 toes, reddish orange, yellowish orange in summer; claws, 

 black; webs, darker reddish orange; in summer yellowish 

 orange. 



The female has the head, crown, and neck on the back, 

 pale reddish brown of two shades, the shaft streaks being 

 dusky; breast, pale brownish rufous, with dusky brown spots; 

 back, dusky brown, the edges and tips of the feathers of a 

 paler tint, rufous white. Lesser wing coverts, tinged with 

 pale blue; the speculum green. 



In the young birds at first the bill, which is scarcely 

 larger than usual in proportion to their size, is not dilated, 

 but in three or four weeks assumes its proper and peculiar 

 shape. The young male resembles the female till the autumn. 

 Bewick says that the full plumage is not acquired till after 

 the second moult. 



There were some dark spots on the white in the specimen 

 killed near York. 



The engraving is after a design by John Gratcombe, Esq., 

 of Plymouth. 



EXD OF TOL. VI. 



'B. FAWCETT, EKGRAVKB, ASD PKINTEK, EAST LODQK, DIFF1L,U. 



