SPATULA CLYPEATA. 1089 



winter ; but further south I imagine it is only of accidental occurrence. I find no record of its having been 

 observed on the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal ; but on its migration to the Mongolian regions it no doubt 

 passes up the valley of the Brahmapootra, and thence from the confines of Assam to Koko-nor and the Hoang-ho 

 valley, 'where Prjevalsky found it not uncommon in March. Some few remain to breed at Lake Hanka, but 

 the majority move on. In China it is common in winter, as also in Formosa. To the north it is found 

 throughout Amoor Land, extending to Japan and Kamtchatka. Moving westward now, we find it inhabiting 

 the plains of Kashghar in November and December, but not remaining throughout the winter ; in Turkestan 

 we have Severtzoff's authority for its breeding, and being found on passage, in the east and north-west of that 

 country; and further north it has been met with in Western Siberia, and occurs, though not commonly, on 

 the Yenesay as far as the Arctic circle, where Mr. Seebohm procured it. In various parts of Palestine it was 

 obtained by Canon Tristram, and thence westwards it is found in Asia Minor and also in Southern Europe, 

 including Greece and the Mediterranean islands, as a bird of passage from Northern Africa (where it is very 

 abundant in whiter) to the northern parts of the first-named continent. Here it occurs in Scandinavia up to 

 the Arctic circle, and in Russia as far as the White Sea, being very abundant in the Delta of the Dwina in 

 the breeding-season, though not so much so on the Petchora further east. It likewise breeds in Central 

 Europe, but in Hungary it is only seen on migration. It is a summer visitant to England and Scotland, 

 breeding in Norfolk, Durham, and Northumberland, as also in Scotland as far north as Elgin. Turning to 

 the south, again, it is not uncommon in Spain and Portugal, and is met with in considerable numbers near 

 the Straits from October until April. In Morocco and in Algeria it is common, breeding in the latter country ; 

 and in Egypt it is very abundant, wandering south to the White and Blue Nile, and has been met with the 

 whole year round by Von Heuglin in Abyssinia, at an elevation of from 6000 to 8000 feet. Should the South- 

 African species prove to be the same, the range of this Shoveller will extend to the neighbourhood of Cape 



back, and wings dull olive-grey, excepting the spot on the shoulder, which, with the rest of the body, is pale 

 yellowish grey ; his dark brown ; bill reddish brown, with the nail white ; feet ash-grey, with a greenish tinge, 

 webs and toes narrowly edged with yellowish white." {Dresser, fide Baldamus.) 



Young male. " Resembles the female, but has the crest much fuller and more rufous in colour, in tinge much closer 

 to that of the male, only duller." (Dresser.) 



Young female (Yarkand). Wing 8-9 inches. "Bill dusky above, brownish below; legs and feet dusky, yellowish 

 green in parts." (Scully.) 



Distribution.— A Duck, identified with the Red-crested Pochard, was met with by Layard in the Jaffna peninsula, 

 concerning which he writes as foUows :— " I introduce this species with a mark of doubt, because I only know them 

 through my telescope. I saw two or three pairs for several weeks on a piece of brackish water between Jaffna and 

 Chavagacherry ; they would not allow me to get within 250 or 300 yards of them, and I therefore never managed to shoot 

 one. A head of F. rufina, however, which I received from Calcutta, was identified by a native as of a bird he knew and 

 had killed on that very piece of water, though he had not seen them elsewhere." Subsequently he writes me that he is 

 sure he identified the bird correctly ; but, in accordance with the practice adopted throughout the work, I doubtfully 

 introduce the species into it. According to Jerdon it is found throughout the greater part of India, but is more rare in the 

 south. I find it recorded recently from the Deccan (Fairbank), from several parts of Chota Nagpur, in the Manbhum 

 district of which province it is not rare (Ball), as being very common near Calcutta, as a straggler from Furreedpore ; 

 and, on the north- western side of the peninsula, as found in Cutch, Kattiawar, Sindh, Guzerat, and Jodhpoor. It occurs 

 on large tanks in Guzerat, and on lakes in Sindh ; and is common at Sambhur in the cold weather (Adam). It likewise 

 is found in the Punjab, Cashmere, and Oudh. It breeds throughout Turkestan, and is resident in the south-west of that 

 country ; at Yarkand it is a summer visitor (Scully). It does not appear to extend into Central Asia, but ranges west- 

 ward through Palestine to South-eastern Europe, where it is found in Greece, Turkey, Southern Russia, and also m 

 Hungary, extending thence into Bohemia and Southern Germany. It is found in Italy, Malta, Sardinia, and Sicily, 

 breeding in the two latter islands. In Spain it is mostly confined to the east coast, being common at Valencia, and very 



