SHOVELLER DUCK. 219 



and the sides, of which, however, the feathers are 

 margined with dusky ; the middle of the breast 

 white. Smaller wing-coverts dull brownish-gray ; 

 alula and primaries as in the male; inner 

 secondaries brownish-black ; the speculum as in 

 the male, but paler, and changing to blue; the 

 secondary coverts tipped with white. Tail nearly 

 as in the male. 



Length to end of tail, 17 inches ; extent of 

 wings, 29£; weight, 1 pound 1 ounce. 



Spoonbills are seldom found in large numbers, 

 but opportunities for shooting them will frequent- 

 ly occur when in the pursuit of other fowl. 

 They associate with mallards when feeding, and 

 their notes sound much alike. They fly very 

 closely and irregularly together, and when a 

 small flock comes to the decoys (for they decoy 

 and come to the mallard call exceedingly well), 

 the experienced hunter usually counts on secur- 

 ing fully half their number. A very slight 

 blow brings them down. In fact, I have fre- 

 quently seen whole flocks of five to eight indi- 

 viduals killed with both barrels. They are very 

 poor divers, even when wounded, and try to 

 escape by hiding, if possible. It is commonly 

 easy to approach them within favorable distance, 



