SHOVELLER 25 



makes responsive actions similar to the movements of the male, though perhaps less 

 pronounced. 



The nuptial flight, which was described long ago by Naumann and many times 

 since, is well developed and does not differ essentially from that of other surface- 

 feeders. At the mouth of the Athabasca, Mr. Francis Harper (MS.) noted such 

 flights on June 15, 16, and 20, 1920. From two to four males engaged in the pursuit 

 of one female, and he once saw a male, perhaps the true mate, trying to fend off a 

 rival while on the wing. 



The curious habit, common, it seems, to all species of Shovellers, of swimming in 

 close circles one behind the other, has led some writers to suggest that this trait may 

 be connected with display activity, particularly as it appears to be more common in 

 the spring than in the winter. It is much more probable, however, that it is a prac- 

 tice developed to stir up insect larva? which would be sought after much more in the 

 spring than in autumn and winter. 



Millais (1902) has called attention to what he considers a sort of polyandry in the 

 domestic affairs of the Shoveller. He says it is rather common to see a female at- 

 tended by two males, and he has found that one of these males is usually a bird of 

 the previous year, with incomplete plumage. The two husbands, according to his 

 observations, get along in perfect amity. No one else seems to have noticed a similar 

 state of affairs, so I think it is probably exceptional, and due to local excess of males. 



The spring migration is somewhat late, and the nesting season is at least a month 

 later than with the Mallard. Throughout northern States and Canada the average 

 date is for early June but in Utah they lay in late April and early May. In western 

 Europe the eggs are commonly laid in May. 



There is nothing characteristic about the position of the nest, which is usually on 

 dry land, in or near marshes, or prairie ponds, and sometimes well out on the open 

 prairie. The clutch varies in number from eight to fourteen eggs, averaging about 

 ten. One nest containing nineteen eggs is mentioned by Naumann (1896-1905). 

 The eggs are pale olive-buff to grayish green in color, and resemble those of the Gar- 

 ganey, although they are larger. They cannot always be told from those of the Pin- 

 tail, although they average smaller. In length they vary from 48-58 mm. and in 

 width from 34-39 mm.; 103 eggs from the Old World averaged 52.58 by 37.11 

 (Jourdain,^(Ze Hartert, 1920a) while 20 eggs in the United States National Museum 

 averaged 55.5 by 37 mm. (Grinnell, Bryant and Storer, 1918). The nest-down is 

 blackish or black, with faint white or light-brown tips, and light centers (A. C. Jack- 

 son, 1918). It is very similar to that of the Widgeon, excepting that it is slightly 

 darker, though the two probably cannot always be distinguished. The down of the 

 Pintail is larger and lighter. Diagnosis of the nest is said to be aided by examination 

 of the feathers in it, which cannot be confused with those of the Pintail or Widgeon 

 (H. Noble, 1908). 



