204 ANATlD^l. 



This admirable formation is not found to exist in 

 newly-hatched young, or even in those some weeks old, 

 but is gradually developed with their growth.* In 

 plumage, the Shoveller is remarkably handsome ; the 

 head is a fine iridescent green and purple, extending 

 about halfway down the neck, the lower parts of which 

 and the breast are white. The belly is chestnut; the 

 back dark brown ; the smaller wing-coverts, points of the 

 wings, and tertials, are sky-blue ; the speculum is bright 

 green margined with white, and the tail is short and 

 dark. The bill which is so marked a feature, is nearly 

 black and about three inches long; the broad end being 

 an inch and a quarter across. In the female, the under 

 mandible is a reddish hue, the head is a spotted brown, 

 and the plumage differs in one or two other minor points. 

 The young of both sexes are similar to one another in 

 plumage for some time after they are able to run about, 

 and the distinguishing plumage of the male is developed 

 very gradually. This circumstance, common also to other 

 birds, is naturally accounted for by White,f who says, 

 " no doubt the reason why the sex of birds in their first 



* Wilson, Amer. Orn., says, " The young are at first very shapeless 

 and ugly, for the bill is then as hroad as the body, and seems too great 

 a weight for the little bird to carry." He however writes this only on 

 hearsay, while the contrary fact is vouched for by Yarrell on his own 

 personal knowledge. 



t Nat. Hist. Selb. 



