The Shoveler 
Shoveler reached his prey and dexterously caught the beetle as it darted away 
again. After each capture the duck retired to the side of the pool again and 
there awaited the next rise — commonly about twenty-five feet away. While 
thus occupied he seemed to be in a high state of tension ; the feathers were 
closely drawn up and he kept his neck working backwards and forwards, in 
preparation, as it were, for the next spring, exactly like a cat 'getting up 
steam ' for the final rush on a victim. Sometimes he seemed to get into a 
frantic state of excitement, darting here and there as if he saw beetles rising 
in every direction. I noticed also that while devouring his prey the pupils of 
his eyes were unusually contracted, and the golden circlets seemed to shine 
more brilliantly than usual. Sometimes I have seen the Shoveler, when unable 
to catch a beetle or fish in the water, get outside and drive it with skill in 
the shallows or edge of the pond and seize it as it resisted or tried to turn. 
On the little pond at Fort George I kept all the surface-feeders, for, as part of 
an ancient bog marsh, it was perfectly suited to their habits, the birds being 
in natural surroundings, and consequently in the best of health. Sometimes, 
on a warm spring night, when there was a good moon, I have lain down in 
reeds close to the water and watched my ducks for an hour or two, and have 
noticed that in the evening the Shovelers were always the first to commence 
feeding and most active throughout the night, exploring every nook and 
cranny in the enclosure. At this time they became more active than any 
other surface-feeders, and 'guttered' much in the mud along the side of 
the pond. 
Shovelers will do well on oats, barley, and maize. They catch an occa- 
sional fish for themselves, and are particularly fond of duck-weed, grass seeds, 
and small Crustacea. 
In England and Scotland, when about to nest with us, they arrive in 
April, generally in one large flock, on some favourite ' broad ' or lake. Here 
they stay for a few days, and at once commence to split up into small parties 
and to pair. In the spring of 1884 I saw, in one day, at least 300 Shovelers 
on Benacre Broad, in Suffolk ; but a few days later most of them had gone. 
