﻿80 ANATID.E. 



and ponds, and fenny districts, and very rarely the sea-coast 

 Uncultivated boggy wastes, whether surrounded by trees, or 

 bushes, or entirely open, where the ground is intersected by 

 ponds and ditches, and the water well covered and supplied 

 with weeds and rushes, it is very partial to ; it seldom swims 

 about of its own accord in open streams, rivers, or lakes, and 

 if danger induces it to escape by doing so, it very soon re- 

 gains the shore again on the first opportunity to recommence 

 its search for food. The day is generally passed by this 

 species about the more extensive waters, and towards the 

 dusk of the evening, like most other ducks, it wanders about 

 in search of the smaller, and remains there throughout the 

 night until the dawn of morning. 



The food of the Shoveller consists in small worms, aqua- 

 tic insects, fish and frog spawn, tadpoles and small frogs, 

 freshwater snails, and the tender shoots of aquatic plants, 

 grasses, buds, and seeds of rushes and sometimes grain ; 

 small stones are at all times found in its stomach. The Shovel- 

 ler is very frequently seen to swim about the divers water- 

 plants that lie on the surface of the water in all directions, 

 opening and shutting its beak with incredible quickness, in 

 order to catch its food from among the weeds, letting the 

 water out through the laminse of its beautifully adapted beak. 

 Where the bottom is within reach of the bird's neck, the 

 Shoveller often swims head downwards, but it does not dive 

 for food at any time. 



In confinement, the food of this species consists greatly in 

 barley, oats, and bread, but unless it has a pond with duck- 

 weed at its disposal, it does not thrive. 



The Shoveller is very easily distinguished from other 

 ducks by its broad spoon-shaped beak, and its plumage is so 

 very distinct and peculiar that it cannot be mistaken for any 

 other species. In its nature this bird is not very shy, and when 



