ORNAMENTAL WATERFOWL. 191 
creeks, marshes, lakes, and pools, both near the coast, and in 
the interior of the country, are the situations in which the 
Australian Shoveler is to be found. It feeds on aquatic plants, 
shelled mollusca, and water insects. _ Its flesh is little, if at all, 
inferior to that of the Australian Wild Duck ; consequently it is 
frequently shot and eaten by the settlers. Like most of its 
tribe, it assumes a richer dress at one season than at another, 
that of the spring or pairing time being much the finest; at 
other times the male is so much like the female, which under- 
goes no change of plumage, as scarcely to be distinguishable 
from her. 
Male.—Crown of the head and the space surrounding 
base of bill brownish black ; throat and breast chestnut-brown, 
blotched with black; on either side of face, between the bill 
and the eye, a broad lunar-shaped line of white, bounded 
posteriorly by speckles of black; head and neck grey, with 
greenish reflections ; all the under surface very dark chestnut- 
brown ; back brownish-black ; wing-coverts black, largely tipped 
with white ; under surface of the wing white; tail dark brown ; 
irides bright yellow ; bill dark purplish-black, the under 
mandible clouded with yellow ; feet yellow. 
Female.—Head and neck buff, striated with dark brown, 
the latter colour predominating on the crown of the head and 
back of the neck; all the upper surface dark brown, each 
feather margined with whitish-brown ; the wings as in the male, 
but the colours and markings much less brilliant and decided ; 
all the under surface mottled-brown and buff. 
Young.—In down, clouded with brown and yellow. 
Egg.—Creamy-white, tinted with green; ten to thirteen 
in number. November. Incubation, about four weeks. 
