SHOVELLER DUCK. 297 



light reddish-brown; the throat and sides of the head are light reddish-brown, 

 which is the prevailing colour over the lower part of the neck, a portion of 

 the breast and the sides, of which, however, the feathers are margined with 

 dusky; the middle of the breast white. Smaller wing-coverts dull brown- 

 ish-grey; alula and primaries as in the male; inner secondaries brownish- 

 black; the speculum as in the male, but paler, and changing to blue; the 

 secondary coverts tipped with white; tail nearly as in the male. 



Length to end of tail 17 inches; to end of claws 20; bill along the ridge 

 2 7 V; extent of wings 29^. Weight 1 lb. 1 oz. 



The bill of a male measures 2 inches and 8 twelfths along the ridge, the 

 frontal angles 4 twelfths more; the breadth of the upper mandible at the 

 base is Sj twelfths, near the end 1 inch and 3 twelfths. The roof of the 

 mouth is broadly and deeply concave, with a prominent median ridge, which 

 becomes papillate towards the base; the edges of the mandible soft, direct, 

 inflected towards the end; lamellae projecting beyond the margins and taper- 

 ing to a point. On each side of the lower mandible are about 220 lamella?, 

 and about ISO on the upper. The tongue is 2|- inches long, deeply emargi- 

 nate at the base, with numerous papillae, for half an inch narrow and com- 

 pressed, then for an inch expanded, with a thin longitudinal flap above on 

 each side divided into lamella? and minute bristles, at its anterior part having 

 a breadth of 1 inch and terminating abruptly, but with a median thin semi- 

 circular tip, which is 3 twelfths long. 



The oesophagus is 8 inches and 10 twelfths long, 4|- twelfths in diameter, 

 its walls thick. The proventriculus is oblong, 1 inch in length; its glandules 

 of moderate size. The stomach is a strong gizzard of moderate size; the 

 lateral muscles and their tendons large, as in all other Ducks. The intestine 

 is very long, measuring 8 feet, and very narrow, its diameter being from 2 

 twelfths to 1^- twelfths, for half its length, after which it enlarges to 3i| 

 twelfths at the distance of about 2 feet from the commencement of the 

 rectum, then gradually diminishes to 2 twelfths. The rectum is 3 inches 2 

 twelfths long, the cceca 4 inches, their diameter for 14 inches lj twelfths, 

 afterwards 3^ twelfths. 



The trachea is 6 inches 9 twelfths long, very little flattened, its diameter 

 at the upper part 2|- twelfths, gradually enlarging to 4 twelfths. On the left 

 side of the inferior larynx there is a rounded expansion of very moderate 

 size compared with that observed in many other Ducks. The rings are 98; 

 those at the lower part broader and much stronger, but all of them ossified. 

 The bronchial half rings about 35. 



In another individual, the stomach is \} 2 inches long, l-fe broad; the right 

 lateral muscle 6 twelfths thick. Contents, particles of quartz, and fragments 



Vol. VI. 41 



