ANATIN^ — THE DUCKS — SPATULA. 



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According to Givaud, it is met with in small numbers ou Long Island, where it is 

 known to hunters by the name of the "Spoon-bill." It is occasionally met with 

 along the sea-coast ; but is nmch more generally found in the lakes and fresh-water 

 streams, although never abundant in any part of Long Island. Its flesh is tender 

 and juicy, and is deservedly held in high esteem. Jlr. J. A. Allen met Avith tliia 

 species in the valley of Salt Lake, in Utah, where he found it common. 



Our space would not suttice to enumerate the various records of its presence in 

 different parts of the Old World, where it seems to have an almost universal distri- 

 bution. Mr. Salvin met with it in small numbers near Zara, in Xortheastern Africa. 

 ^Ir. Saunders found it not unconnuon in Soutli(>rn Spain, where it was supposed to be 

 resident, and to breed. Cajjtain (i. E. Shelh-y ("Ibis," 1871) found it one of tlu; 

 most abundant of the Ducks throughout Egyjtt, where also some remained to breed. 

 Mr. E. C Taylor met with it in Egypt ; jNIr. Tristram in Soutliern Valestine on the 

 Jordan, and in the region of the Sahara. Mr. T. L. I'owys records it as common in 

 the winter in (Jreece. It was observed in Jaj)an by Mr. II. Whitely ("Ibis," 18(57); 

 and also in Japan and ('hina l)y other authorities. 



According to Yarrell, it is chiefly ii winter visitant in Great liritain, inhabiting 

 marshes, lakes, rivers, and muddy shores, gathering its food in shallow water. It is 

 most iilentifnl on the eastern i)arts of England, and breeds in various idaces, from 

 Essex to Lincolnshire. Various attempts have been made to rear this bird from 

 the egg, but generally without much success. During the sunnner of 1841 a i)air of 

 Shovellers made a nest and brought out their young on one of the islands in the 

 Garden of the Zoological Society. The bills of these ducklings were as narrow and 

 the sides as parallel as the bills of some young CJailwalls hatched at the same time. 

 The egg of the Shoveller is described as butty -white, tinged with green, 2.17 inches 

 long, and l.itO wide. 



Yarrell says that this bird is not common in Scandinavia, where it is chiefly confined 

 to the south of Sweden, and that it is found in Russia and Germany, is abundant in 

 Holland, and breeds regidarly in the marshes of France. It also occurs in various 

 ])arts of India, .and nearly throughout Asia. Mr. Dresser states that it has not been 

 found in Southern Africa; lint ilr. Yarrell refers to specimens brought from there by 

 Mr. Andrew Smith. Von Ileuglin sjieaks of it as a permanent resident in Abyssinia. 

 In Xnbia, according to Captain Shelley, it seemed to jn-efer the smaller pools and the 

 banks of lakes and rivers, and to be less shy than other species of ^Vater-Eowl. He 

 S])eaks of its flesh as "very inferior eating." Dr. Jenlon, in recording its occurrence 

 in India, speaks of it as feeding, near the edges of tanks, in shallow water, among 

 weeds, chiefly on minute worms and larvie, which it sifts from the mud. 



Althougli a fresh-water Duck, it is not infre(pu'ntly met with on the coast; but 

 its favorite resort is fresh waters overgrown with aquatic plants. It is not particu- 

 larly shy, and is generally seen in flocks. It feeds on the seeds of various watei- 

 plants, grain, and minute water-insects, for wliich last its fringed mandibles are 

 especially usefid, enabling it to expel the water, and yet retain the minutest insects 

 gathered in at the sanu' time. On account of its fondness for insects one author has 

 nanunl the species mnsrarhi. 



In Europe it breeds in May, June, and Jidy. Its nest — placed close to some 

 fresh-water j)ond or lake — is a hole scratched in the soil, lincil with a few grasses 

 and a considerable quantity of down phu'ked from the bird itself. In Denmark it 

 breeds near the coast, and on islands in the fiords. The nests are iisually concealed 

 in the high grass or under low bushes, and ( antain from nine to f(mrteen eggs. 

 Eggs have been found as early as the 2d of May and us late as the 24th of July. 



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