282 WATER FOWL. 



GENUS SPA TULA 

 (Latin spatula, dim. of spatha, a broad blade). 



Spatula, Boie. Isis, 1822, p. 564. Type Anas clypeata, Linn. 



Bill longer than head, spreading out toward the tip, where it is 

 twice as wide as at the base. Nail prominent, forming a hook. 

 Lamellae prominent. Wings long, pointed. Tail short, com- 

 posed of fourteen acute feathers. The peculiarly shaped bill 

 makes this species readily recognizable among our Ducks, irre- 

 spective of other characters. 



The Shoveler is cosmopolitan, and the American bird is one of 

 the four known species of the genus. The others are natives of 

 South America, Australia and its neighboring islands, and South 

 Africa, respectively. Of the North American species, when 

 arrayed in all its finery, the male is a beautiful bird, although, 

 from the disproportionate size of the bill, it is apparently slightly 

 top-heavy. It has, however, a graceful shape, and walks easily 

 and well. The female, of course, can be distinguished from those 

 of other species by her large, spoon-shaped bill. 



SUBFAMILY FULIGULIN^. 



SEA DUCKS. 



This subfamily contains the Sea Ducks, which are 

 mainly distinguished from the species of Anatin.s, fre- 

 quenting the Rivers and Lakes, usually known as the 

 Fresh-Water Ducks, by having a membranous web de- 

 pending from the hind toe. The feet are larger, with 

 broader webs and longer toes, while the legs are shorter 

 and placed nearer the tail, causing the walk to be awk- 

 ward and somewhat difficult, but facilitating both swim- 

 ming and diving. Most of the species belong to the 

 Northern Hemisphere, and breed in high latitudes, and 

 a large number are exclusively marine, but others are 

 seen occasionally on the Great Lakes and large rivers. 

 Individuals found in such localities are, however, usually 



