THE SHOVELER 325 



or in the water either dead or dying. So thickly at 

 times do these short-lived insects cover the water that, 

 in places, the masses look like large patches of grey film. 



This is the time for the Shoveler. He and his mate, 

 will, so to speak, lay their heads and necks on the water, 

 the lower mandible being just under water ; and they 

 will paddle along feeding as they go. These insects 

 are part of their food in the season. Then too, they can 

 probe and spatter on the edge of the reeds, where they 

 find plenty of food, for the soft mud at their roots is full 

 of the seeds of water plants growing below. As to the 

 undeveloped forms of insect life, the light vegetable mud 

 is full of these. So this handsome bird goes on his way 

 very happily if not disturbed." 



Shovelers are plump ducks, and when their food is 

 right are excellent for the table. 



The Shoveler visits Great Britain during cold weather, 

 and a fair number of the birds stav and breed with us. 



The Shoveler is smaller than the Wild Duck and is 

 more thick-set in build. Its chief characteristic is its 

 powerful spoon-shaped, or rather shovel-shaped bill, 

 which broadens out in front, and is furnished with a 

 thickly toothed, comb-like arrangement on the inner edge 

 which is specially adapted for filtering the water. The 

 drake has beautiful plumage. The beauty spot on the 

 wings is of a lustrous green, and has a white upper 

 border, the wing itself is light blue. The sides of the 

 head are bluish-green, with a fine lustre, the crop white. 

 The forepart of the mantle is greenish-black, each feather 

 having a white border ; rump bluish black as is also the 

 under tail cover. Shoulder feathers pointed, black and 



* "A Son of the Marshes." 



