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DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



shaped bill the broadest of any American duck. The head 

 and neck of the male are either black, or dark metallic-green; 

 and the body colors are black, white, blue and green, hand- 

 somely disposed. 



The bill of this bird shows the limit of development in 

 width, and the comb-like lamellae along the outer edges, 



Male. Female. 



THE SHOVELLER DUCK. 



which are designed for . use in straining minute particles of 

 food out of water, are very pronounced. These minute 

 plates are set cross-wise at the edges of the mandibles, and 

 perform the same function as the plates of hairy baleen, or 

 "whalebone," in the mouth of a baleen whale. All the mem- 

 bers of the Order Anatidae are provided with lamellated bills, 

 as also are the flamingoes. 



This fine duck is a bird of inland waters, and appears to 

 dislike salt water. It is found sparingly "pretty much every- 



