Descriptive List of the Common Birds 
bird. (Illus. I. D., p. 114; also I. G. IIL, 
p- 123.) 
230. Spatula clypeata : The Shoveller. (F. 
1602), (J. 957), (-V.) 
This handsome duck, although it occurs in 
jhils, is pre-eminently a village duck. If there 
be any considerable piece of. stagnant water 
near a village in N. India, there are likely to 
be some shoveller ducks on this—in winter, 
for they are only winter visitors to India. 
This species is distinguishable from other 
ducks by its great flat bill being much broader 
at the tip than at the base. It has a peculiar 
habit of swimming in circles with its bill rest- 
ing on the surface of the water. 
Cock, after February: Head and upper neck 
glossy green. Lower neck and breast white. 
Abdomen chestnut. Rest of body brown with 
a green patch or speculum in the wing. 
Cock before February, and Hen: Reddish 
brown with a lighter-coloured border to many 
of the feathers. (Illus. I. D., p. 196; alsoI. G. 
III., p. 141.) 
231. Podicipes albipennis : The Indian Little 
Grebe, or Dabchick. (F. 1617), (J. 975), (+II.) 
This is one of the most aquatic birds in 
existence. It rarely walks on terra firma, and 
227 
