ANATID.E. 477 



green and bronze ; a part of the tertials are nearly 

 black, and some of them are of a rich bay on the 

 outer web ; the tail-feathers are white tipped with 

 black; there is an irregular broadish black mark 

 running from the breast through the belly to the 

 vent ; all the rest of the under parts pure white ; 

 the legs, toes and webs are of a pale flesh-colour. 



The female may be known from the male by a 

 white spot on the forehead, immediately above the 

 beak. The young birds in their first autumn have 

 the beak flesh-colour, the head and neck brown ; the 

 chin and front of the neck white ; interscapulars and 

 wings brown; wing- coverts white; tertials white, 

 but edged with chesnut ; primaries black ; speculum 

 becoming green ; all the under-surface white.* The 

 very young birds in their down plumage are spotted 

 dullish black and white. 



The egg is considerably larger than that of the 

 common Wild Duck, and perfectly white. 



SHOVELLER, Anas clypeata. The Shoveller is a 

 rather rare occasional visitor to our county, making 

 its appearance generally in the winter and early 

 spring. Although generally only an early and 

 passing visitor to our county and to England, a few 

 pairs of these birds are said to remain throughout 

 the year and to breed in various parts.* I have 

 never found this an easy bird to keep in a state of 



* Yarrell, vol. iii., p. 245. f Id., p. 250. 



