193 



SHOYELEK. 



BLUE-WIKCtED SHOYELEK. KED-BKEASTEL> SHOYELEK. COMMON SHOVELER. BROAD-BILL. 



Spathtdea ch/peata, ..... Fiejeesg. 



Anas rttlens, ...... Petstast. 



Rh/ncMspis clypeata, ..... Stephens. 



Spatfailea. Spathih — A broad knife used for spreading salve, on account of its shape. 



Clypeata — That carries a shield. 



The Shoveler, although widely distributed, is by no means common in any parr of 

 the United Kingdom. The greater number probably migrate to this country in the winter, 

 but a few are known to breed regularly in Xorfolk. It occurs sparingly during the 

 winter all along the eastern and southern counties of England: in Xorth "Wales and 

 Cumberland, and occasionally in many other counties. In Scotland it is rare, and is not 

 mentioned by Mr. St. John, as being found in Sutherland. 



In Ireland it is a regular winter visitor, and is said to breed in some parts of the island. 



Abroad its distribution is almost world-wide. Thus it occurs in France. Germanv. 

 Holland. Italy. Xorway. Russia, Spain, and Sweden. In the islands of the Mediterranean: 

 in both Xorth and South Africa: in Asia Elinor; about the shores of the Caspian sea: 

 in India, and Japan. It also is found in Xorth America. As a bird for the table, 

 none of the ducts are to be preferred to the Shoveler; Wilson says that its flesh is 

 uniformly juicy, tender, and well-tasted: and Audubon says that no one should pass a 

 Shoveler to shoot even a Canvass-back duck, so well known to the transatlantic epicures : 

 and now, thanks to steam, even to those of our own land. 



In its habits, the Shoveler is a true duck: it frequents the muddy shores of rivers or 

 fresh-water lakes, sifting the thin mud through its curiously formed bill in its search 

 for water insects, their larvae, minute worms, and seeds, of which the bulk of its food 

 consists. It dives badly, and only attempts to do so when wounded and unable to 

 escape a close pursuit in any other way. 



It is monogamous. 



The food of the Shoveler consists, as before stated, of all kinds of aquatic insects. 

 their larvae, minute worms, seeds, and small aquatic mollusca. ^Sh\ Thompson mentions 



