240 WILD-FOWL 



It is a handsome gray bird with a white speculum on 

 the wing. It is fairly abundant in the tule marshes 

 in California, and there, as elsewhere, it is much es- 

 teemed as a table delicacy. 



THE SHOVELER 



The shoveler is often called the spoon-bill from its 

 wide bill, by which it is easily distinguished from all 

 other ducks. It is not common on the Atlantic Coast, 

 but is abundant in the Mississippi valley. It comes 

 to the United States in the autumn with the other 

 ducks, but some remain to breed throughout the 

 States, even as far south as Texas. The flocks are 

 larger than those of the gadwall or widgeon; the 

 flight is said to resemble that of the teal, but they 

 are not so fast. 



The spoon-bills are very handsome birds, with 

 bright green heads, like the mallards. They come 

 readily to decoys, are excellent on the table and are 

 easily placed among the best of the fresh-water wild- 

 fowl. 



I have often shot the spoon-bills when shooting 

 other ducks, but have nowhere seen them very 

 abundant. 



