THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AMERICAN DUCK 179 



where throughout the northern hemisphere . . . but is not 

 common in the eastern states, and breeds from Alaska to 

 Texas." Its flight is much hke that of a teal, but less swift, 

 and in cruising about for good feeding-grounds it is irregular 

 arid hesitating. "The body of the Shoveller is not large, and 

 its apparent size in the air is made up chiefly of wings and 

 '^ead. ... As a bird for the table, I have held it in very high 

 esteem." (D. G. Elliot.) 



In captivity this is a difficult bird to acclimatize and keep 

 alive, which for several reasons is to be regretted. The fe- 

 males and immature birds are colored very differently from 

 the adult and perfect males. The following local names of 

 this bird have been recorded by Mr. Elliot in his "Wild Fowl 

 of North America": Blue-Winged Shoveller, Red-Breasted 

 Shoveller, Spoonbill "Teal," Spoonbilled "Widgeon," Broad- 

 Bill, Broady, Swaddle-Bill and Mud Shoveller. 



I regard the Pintail, or Sprigtail,' as the most beautiful 

 duck in America, not even excepting the wood duck. On 

 land its outlines are trim, graceful and flnely drawn, and on 

 the water it makes one think of a finely modelled yacht. In 

 beauty of form it far surpasses all other American ducks; 

 and nowhere among wild fowl is there to be found a more 

 charming color scheme than in the plumage of the drake. 

 It is a harmony of delicate drabs, grays and white used to 

 set off several pleasing shades of brown, black and iridescent 

 green. None of the colors are gaudy or cheap-looking, and 

 as a whole the combination of form and colors produces a 

 bird that is in every way an exquisite creature. 



' Daf'i-la a-cu'ta. Average length of male, 27 inches; female, 22 inches. 



