DECEMBER 307 



eyes, tufted ducks, and pochards, all diving ducks closely 

 related to each other and of very similar habits in other 

 respects, might be expected to entertain similar feelings 

 towards the arch-enemy. Surface-feeding shovellers, 

 again, are very like mallards in habit and shape, except 

 for their uncouth extravagance of bill. 



By the by, is it commonly known that this exaggerated 

 feature only makes its appearance with maturity? 

 Shoveller ducklings are hatched with just as dainty little 

 'nebs' as young wild-ducks have; but as they grow in 

 weeks their noses grow in length and breadth until they 

 disfigure an otherwise comely countenance. They must, 

 however, be most serviceable tablespoons in sifting 

 delicacies out of the ooze. 



What a handsome bird is the adult shoveller drake, 

 despite his dilated, lead-coloured beak. His head is 

 greenish bronze, with just a dash of true beetle-green 

 behind each yellow eye ; a snowy breast borders abruptly 

 upon the rich chestnut flanks and belly ; the back is light 

 brown, the scapulars and greater wing-coverts white, but 

 the lesser wing-coverts display a beautiful light blue 

 unique occurrence of that colour in British waterfowl 

 and a speculum of green as vivid as any mallard's. 

 Except the eider, the shoveller is the only British duck of 

 which the under parts are darker in hue than the upper. 

 As in other species of Anatince, all this finery disappears 

 with the season of courtship, and Sir Shoveller sneaks 

 about all summer in a shabby imitation of his wife's 

 wardrobe. There is a good example of the male shoveller 

 ' in eclipse ' to be seen in the local museum at Carlisle. 



