﻿SHOVELLER. 79 



NATATORES. ANATIDM. 



PLATE CCXLV. 



SHOVELLER. 



ANAS CLYPEATA. 



The Shoveller is indigenous in Great Britain, but not 

 a very numerous species, and is usually seen only in families or 

 pairs ; it has by some ornithologists been considered a winter 

 visitant only in this country. 



The geographical distribution of this bird extends over 

 Europe, Asia, and America; it does not inhabit Iceland, as 

 it is rather a tender species, but passes the summer months 

 in the south of Norway and Sweden, in the warmer parts of 

 Asiatic Russia, and the lower provinces of Canada and the 

 United States ; and inhabits throughout the year, Britain, 

 Holland, Prussia, Poland, and Denmark. On the approach 

 of winter, many migrate to the south of Europe ; in Asia 

 they extend as far as Japan and the East Indies, and in 

 America as far as Mexico. 



In the beginning of October, this species departs for the 

 south, and in March and April it returns again to its breed- 

 ing-places. 



The chief locality frequented by the Shoveller, is wet 

 boggy ground, or the soft muddy shores of inland lakes, rivers, 



H 3 



