THE SHOVELLER. 203 



They are a wild and easily alarmed bird, and are not 

 to be approached without the greatest caution, and under 

 the most favourable circumstances. 



The Shoveller {Spatula dypeata) which is called 

 also the Shovel-bill, the Blue-winged Shoveller, and the 

 Broad-bill, is abundant in some parts of North America, 

 and its flesh is deservedly very highly esteemed, though 

 its food is by no means entirely of that vegetable 

 nature which is supposed to be so conducive to excellence, 

 consisting, we are told, in a great measure of worms, 

 leeches, fish, and snails ! Audubon says, " no sportsman 

 who is a judge will ever go by a Shoveller to shoot a 

 canvas-back." But without going so far as this, there is 

 no question as to the exceedingly delicate and tender 

 nature of its flesh. 



The Shoveller is called so from the form of its bill, 

 which is broad and flattened at the end, and if not very 

 like a shovel in appearance, answers much the same 

 purpose in the shallow waters where the bird principally 

 finds its food. In addition to its properties as a spade 

 it possesses also those of a sieve, the edges of both upper 

 and lower mandibles being curiously furnished with a 

 comb-like fringe, adapted to and corresponding with each 

 other in such a manner as to allow the escape of water, 

 while retaining the most minute worms, leeches, or 

 aquatic insects. 



