30 SPATULA CLYPEATA 



average, five years, the maximum being twelve years and ten months (P. C. Mitch- 

 ell, 1911). Mr. H. B. Astley wrote me that he had had a male on his ponds for 

 at least seven years in spite of the fact that there were few water plants for it to 

 feed on. 



An interesting note which seems to have first described the peculiar movement 

 already discussed under Food and Courtship, was published by M. Briiggemann in 

 the Zoblogischer Garten (1876, p. 195). He considers the Shoveller one of the least 

 intelligent of all ducks and very stupid in captivity. Pairs of his birds would pick 

 out a spot near shore and start the rotary swimming movement, gaining great 

 speed and keeping it up for hours when left undisturbed. The male and the female 

 used to do this in common, but single birds also engaged in it, and the observer came 

 to the conclusion that this behavior had nothing to do with sexual activities, and 

 was merely a ruse to bring to the surface all sorts of aquatic life. 



An interesting characteristic showing the phlegmatic disposition of the bird was 

 noted by Heinroth (1911). He says that when locked into a photographer's cage 

 they did not flutter around in the senseless manner of many ducks but soon settled 

 down and stood quietly awaiting developments. He noticed the same philosophical 

 attitude of resignation in the Cinnamon Teal. 



Hybrids. Although the Shoveller has produced hybrids with a comparatively 

 large number of other species, both in the wild and in captivity, wild hybrids are by 

 no means common. So far as I know only one has been described for America, and 

 that was a cross between the Shoveller and the Blue-winged Teal (Deane, 1905a). 

 In the Old World, hybrids between the Shoveller on the one hand, and the Mallard, 

 Gad wall, Common Teal, Pintail and Garganey on the other have been recorded 

 (Suchetet, 1896; Poll, 1911). In confinement the Shoveller has crossed with the Gar- 

 ganey, the Muscovy and the Carolina Duck (Poll, 1911; Millais, 1902; Worinald, 

 1914). 



