528 LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 



except in tlie extreme north ; is found in Northern and Central Africa ; and is said 

 to have been taken even in South Africa and in Australia ; but the evidence in this 

 regard is not wholly satisfactory. 



Mr. Salvin found it inhabiting the Lake of DueSas during the winter, where it 

 remained until about the end of March. Colonel Crayson met with it on the western 

 coast of Mexico, and Dr. Palmer obtained it at Guaymas. The former speaks of it 

 as very common about Mazatlan from November to May. According to Dr. Cooper, 

 the Shoveller, or, as there called, the " Spoon-bill Duck," is common in winter along 

 the entire coast of California and throughout the interior, as far north as the Colum- 

 bia, wherever the fresh water to which it resorts is not frozen over. It arrives from 

 the north about the 1st of (Jctober, and remains until March or April, associating 

 with other fresh-water Ducks. It is generally silent, and has at all times but a 

 feeble voice. Its food consists of the same vegetable and animal substances as those 

 eaten by the allied species ; but this bird has the advantage of a more expanded and 

 sensitive bill as a help in finding them, and consequently becomes very fat ; its flesh 

 is also considered well flavored. 



From the late Mr. Robert Kennicott's manuscripts we take the following : " Though 

 the Shoveller goes in summer nearly or (juite as far to the north as Dafila acuta, a 

 larger proportion nest farther south. A few breed within the United States ; and 

 Dr. Hoy mentions it as sometimes nesting in Southern Wisconsin. At Slave Lake I 

 first observed it about the middle of May, when they had already paired. It is highly 

 probable that they arrived earlier, but from their small numbers escajie attention. A 

 pair commenced nesting at the Yukon about the 20th of May. I found it rather rare 

 at the north, though less so west of the mountains than in the Mackenzie Region. I 

 did not see more than a pair of old birds together at any time. The few specimens 

 observed were usually feeding in shallow water near the shore ; though they appeared 

 to seek the grassy spots less than the other fresh-water Ducks." 



Mr. Bannister states that this species was frequently seen by him among the 

 birds brought in by the hunters of the Fort, during the month of May, at St. Michael's. 

 Mr. Dall was informed that it breeds at one point in the strait between St. Michael's 

 and the mainland. He obtained only a single skin at Unalaklik ; and thinks this 

 bird cannot be abundant anywhere near the Yukon. 



Dr. Richardson states that this species chiefly frequents the clear lakes of the 

 northern districts, and breeds in the Barren Grounds ; but is found in consid- 

 erable numbers, in spring and autumn, in the more southerii wooded districts. 

 Captain Blakiston procured specimens from Hudson s Bay, and also from the Sas- 

 katchewan ; and it was foiuid on the Mackenzie River, within the Arctic Circle, by 

 Mr. Bernard Ross. 



Major Wedderburn mentions the capture of a single specimen in Bermuda in 

 December, 1844. It is also recorded as occurring in several of the West India 

 Islands, Dr. Gundlach noting it as a visitor to Cuba, Mr. Russe as having been found 

 in St. Thomas, and Leotaud as being quite a regular winter visitant to Trinidad. 

 In the latter place it arrives in December or January, and leaves in April or May. 

 It occurs rarely in flocks ; and its flesh, owing probably to some local food which 

 impairs its flavor, is not favorably regarded. 



It does not appear to be at all abundant on any fiart of the eastern coast of the 

 United States. It occurs in small numbers, in spring and fall, in the neighborhood 

 of Calais, but is not recorded from farther north. It is found occasionally in the fall 

 in Massachusetts, but is not recorded as occurring there in the spring. Two were 

 shot at Rye Beach in August, 1872. 



