BIRDS OF INDIANA. 605 



in the Whitewater Valley about the first to the middle of the latter 

 month, when they may be seen in flocks of 20 to 40. I have never 

 observed them in Franklin County earlier than October 4, 1884. They 

 fly with the flock bunched close together, and the rapidity of their 

 flight and their rapid manoeuvers, when the whole flock turns or 

 whirls, as one bird, reminds me of the Wild Pigeon. When they alight 

 they sit or swim very close to each other. For this reason the shooter, 

 when they are very numerous., is enabled to make large bags of game. 

 They are usually at that season in fine condition, and make excellent 

 eating. 



16. GKNUS SPATULA BOIE. 

 a 1 . Speculum green, bordered by black and white. S. clypeata Linn. 35 



*35. (142.) Spatula clypeata LINN. 



Shoveller. 

 Synonym, SPOONBILL. 



Adult Male. Bill much longer than head or foot, widening rapidly 

 to the end, where it is twice as wide as at the base, with very numerous 

 and prominent laminae; head and neck green; fore-breast white; belly 

 purplish-chestnut; wing coverts blue; speculum green, bordered with 

 black and white; some scapulars blue, others green, all white striped; 

 bill blackish; feet red. Adult Female. Known by bill and wings. 



Length, 17.00-21.00; wing, 9.00-10.00; bill, 2.60-2.90; width of bill 

 at end, 1.10-1.20; at base, .60; tarsus, 1.40-1.50. 



RANGE. Northern hemisphere. In North America, breeding from 

 Alaska to Texas; not abundant on the Atlantic coast north of the 

 Carolinas. Winters from southern Illinois to Guatemala and. West 

 Indies. 



Nest, on ground. Eggs. 6-10; greenish-gray, 2.12 by 1.48. 



Migrant; not uncommon; rare summer resident; possibly winter 

 resident; some winters southward. 



Prof. W. W. Cooke says this duck winters from southern Illinois 

 southward. It may be found at that season, mild winters, in southern 

 Indiana. 



In 1887, Prof. B. W. Evermann found a single specimen at Terre 

 Haute, February 26. That is the earliest record reported from the 

 State. Usually they appear upon the Ohio and the rivers of southern 

 Indiana by the first week in March. Decatur County, March 3, 1888 

 (E. L. Guthrie). About the middle of March they may be looked for 



