ANATID.E. 439 



try to hide themselves on shore. They fly high and swiftly, in flocks, arranged 

 in two lines meeting in an acute angle : they alight on the ground, seldom on 

 the water. 



Distribution. — Anser albifrons and hyperboreus feed chiefly on berries, and are 

 seldom seen on the water, except in the night or when moulting. They frequent 

 the sandy shores of rivers and lakes in flocks, one of their number generally 

 performing the duty of a sentinel. Both species breed in great numbers in Arctic 

 America and on the islands of the Polar Sea. — A. albifrons is rare on the coast of 

 Hudson's Bay. It migrates over the interior, and chooses its breeding-places 

 in the vicinity of woody tracts. — A. hyperboreus visits both the interior and the 

 coast in its migrations ; but resorts to the Barren Grounds to breed. — A. Cana- 

 densis is abundant in pairs throughout the fur-countries up to a high latitude. 

 It associates in flocks only on its first arrival. It feeds on grass and on all kinds 

 of berries. Early in the spring I have found its crop filled with the farinaceous, 

 astringent fruit of the Eleagnus argentea. — A. bernicla and Hutchinsii breed in 

 considerable numbers on the shores and islands of the Arctic Sea ; but keep near 

 the sea-coast in their migrations, and are seldom seen in the interior. They feed 

 on marine plants and on the mollusca which adhere to them, as well as on grass 

 and berries*. — R. 



[197.] 1. Anas clypeata. (Linn.) The Shoveller. 



Sub-fam. Anatinae, Sw. Genus, Anas, Linn., Swainson-)-. Sub-genus, Typical form. 



Anas clypeata. Linn. Ed. 1767, i. ; p. 200. 



Shoveller-duck. Penn. Arct. Zool., ii., p. 557, No. 485. Wils., viii., p. 65, pi. 67, f. 7- 



Canard suchet (Anas clypeata). Temm., ii., p. 842. 



Anas (Rhynchaspis) clypeata. Bonap., Syn., No. 322. 



Mimenick. Cree Indians. 



DESCRIPTION 



Of a male, killed at Fort Franklin, May, 1826. 



Colour.— Head, adjoining half of the neck, medial stripe to the interscapulars, the whole 



* The Prince of Musignano enumerates A. segetum and leucopsis in his list of American Geese; but they did not 

 come under our notice in the fur- countries. Hutchins and Hearne speak of the Canada Goose under the name of 

 " Common Grey Goose ;" what they term " Canada Goose " being our A. Hutchinsii. — R. 



f Want of space compels us to omit a very long dissertation on the natural groups of this family, which would 

 explain our reasons for rejecting the name of Rhynchaspis, and for considering the Gadwall as a sub-genus. We trust 

 that the establishment of a liberal and enlightened Ministry, now happily effected, will remove the odium which has 

 long been cast on our government for its apathy to all scientific pursuits ; that it will now continue to patronise, like 

 every other nation in Europe, works of this nature ; and that we may have the opportunity of publishing, not only oux 

 researches upon this family, but those upon very many others, here but slightly noticed. — Sw. 



