THE SWIMMERS. 



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rivers and muddy shores, in search of insects, molluscs, worms, and crustaceans, that form their 

 principal means of subsistence ; they also consume grass and other vegetable matter. 



The remarkable beak possessed by these birds is admirably suited for the use to which it is 

 destined, its laminated sides being furnished with numerous nerves, which endow it with a delicate 

 sense of touch, enabling it at once to select such matters as are fitted for sustenance. The nest, 

 which is placed on a tuft of herbage, is composed of fine grass, the eggs being carefully covered with 

 down from the mother's breast. The eggs are of a buffy white, tinged with green ; their size is about 

 two inches two lines by one inch six lines. 



the shoveler duck {Spatula clypeata). ONE-FOURTH natural size. 



THE MUSK DUCK. 

 The Musk Duck {Cairina moschata) is recognisable by its slender rounded body, tolerably 

 slender neck, and large head, and by its comparatively long powerful beak, which is elevated at its 

 base. The bare bridles are covered with large fleshy warts, and the claws are short and broad. The 

 proportionately short wings have the third quill longer than the rest. The tail is strong and rounded, 

 and composed of eighteen feathers. The plumage of the male is principally brownish black ; the top 

 of the head brownish green ; the rump, wings, and rest of the upper part of the body are shaded with 

 metallic green and purple-violet The quills are green, shimmering with dark steel-blue ; the wing- 

 covers mostly white, the under parts dull blackish brown ; the under tail-covers shining green ; the 

 eye yellow ; the naked places on the face brownish black ; the warty excrescences dark red, partially 

 spotted with black. The bill is black, with a cross stripe of blueish white just in front of the nostrils; 

 towards the point it is of a pale flesh-colour. Length of male, thirty-two inches ; breadth, forty-seven 

 inches; length of wing, fourteen inches and a half; length of tail, seven inches and three-quarters. 

 The female is considerably smaller than her mate, but in other respects they very much resemble 

 each other. 



