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DUCKS, GEESE, AND SWANS 



shaped bill — the broadest of any American duck. The head 

 and neck of the male are either black, or dark metallic-green; 

 and the body colors are black, white, blue and green, hand- 

 somely disposed. 



The bill of this bird shows the limit of development in 

 width, and the comb-like lamellae along the outer edges, 



Male. Female. 



THE SHOVELLER DUCK. 



which are designed for use in straining minute particles of 

 food out of water, are very pronounced. These minute 

 plates are set cross-wise at the edges of the mandibles, and 

 perform the same function as the plates of hairy baleen, or 

 "whalebone," in the mouth of a baleen whale. All the mem- 

 bers of the Order Anatidae are provided with lamellated bills, 

 as also are the flamingoes. 



This fine duck is a bird of inland waters, and appears to 

 dislike salt water. It is found sparingly "pretty much every- 



