14 THE SHOVELLER 



the natives, and take wing only just beyond gunshot. 

 Viewed through the glass, their movements are most 

 engaging : one longs for one of those Japanese artists 

 deftest of all limners of bird form to fix their changing 

 attitudes and delicate hues. All the duck tribe, when 

 undisturbed, have a comfortable, amiable, contented- 

 with-the-world-as-it-is sort of expression ; but widgeon 

 most of all. Then the contrast between a drake 

 widgeon afloat and the same bird on the wing is very 

 fascinating. Afloat, he presents a shapely compact 

 tournure, pearly grey on back and sides, roseate breast, 

 ruddy crest, and fawn- tinted face. He takes wing, and 

 suddenly seems to increase to twice the size, while 

 unsuspected tracts of foamy white become the most 

 conspicuous parts of his plumage. 



V 



Besides the widgeon, another surface-feeding duck, 



the shoveller, has been attracted hither, for the first 



The time in my recollection, by the abundant 



shoveller <jiet. A little fleet of a dozen make the lake 

 their winter headquarters, and the striking plumage of 

 the male bird is a welcome ornament to the scene. 

 They keep aloof from the restless widgeon and diving 

 ducks, consorting chiefly with the mallard, which they 

 resemble in many respects. 



The ungainly proportions of the shoveller (Anas 

 clypeata) is notable among a family of birds dis- 

 tinguished for elegance of form. The plumage of the 

 male bird is very showy, consisting of an arrangement 



