2 
SnOVELLEFv. 
ducks were confined. The bird having exhibited signs of life had been earefully laid out among some 
moist rushes in a game-hag, and on removing the covering I at once reeognized a drake that, having 
been imperfectly pinioned, oecasionally was enabled to take a short flight from the enclosure *. To our 
surprise the bird commenced to move, and eventually stretched out its neck ; though the skull being fractured, 
and part of the brain exposed, little hopes were entertained of its recovery. Having administered some 
water, the sufferer was placed in a eorner of the duck-house, with all necessaries at hand ; and fully 
expeeting to find life extinct on our next visit, we left nature to take its eourse. Day after day, how- 
ever, the bird appeared to regain strength, and after careful attention for some weeks it was enabled to 
stand and answer the call ; in five or six weeks but slight signs of the injury could be detected. It 
was my intention to preserve the skull of this bird for examination, in order to aseertain the extent of the 
fracture; a few months later, however, it again took wing and never returned.” 
While in pursuit of specimens in Mareh 1873 I was accidentally deprived of one of the finest adult 
males that ever came under my notice. At daybreak a pair were made out feeding among the leaves of 
the water-lilies on Ileigham Sounds, and sculling quietly up within range, I fired, stopping both birds ; 
on proceeding to the spot it was ascertained that the oakum in the punt-gun having struck the male 
on the neck, had completely cut aAvay his head, which Avas discovered lying with the wad about tAventy 
yards beyond the body. The felt Avads noAV generally in use would render such mishaps almost impossible. 
Shot, when driven forcibly doAvn by the rod, clings at times to the oakum (especially if the latter is 
damp), and the Avhole mass is carried like a hall f . 
Drakes commence to lose their beauty towards the end of May, the feathers becoming Avorn and 
dingy ; by the beginning of December I have seen several in full plumage, though many of the young 
males are scarcely to be detected from the females at this date. As to Avhether these juveniles would 
assume the mature dress before the end of the season, I cannot offer an opinion, having failed to rear 
these birds in eonfinement. On the Cth of Deeember, 1872, a small party of Shovellers Avere sighted on 
Hickling Broad, and proving too Avild to alloAV a near approaeh, a long shot was tried as they rose on 
wing. Among the slain were tAVO or three young males, just shoAving a sufficient quantity of the red 
feathers on the underparts to proclaim the sex and distinguish them from some young females obtained 
the same day. 
On the 1st of December, 1881, I fired the punt-gun at a dozen Shovellers on Hickling Broad, in 
the east of Norfolk, and stopped half the party ; one drake had almost assumed the full adult dress, 
AAdiile another exhibited a most singular state of plumage. At first I imagined the bird to bo a female, 
but on comparing it Avith one secured at the same shot the difference in eolouring was at once obvious, 
the general tone of the plumage being far darker J. The colours of the soft parts Avere as folloAVS : — 
Iris dull chromo-yelloAV (not quite so bright as in the adult male). Upper mandible olive-brown, with a 
patch of Avarm chrome-yellow at the loAver part of the base ; nail slightly darker ; inside of nostril 
bright yelloAV. Lower mandible two shades — the upper portion olive-broAvn, the under orange. Legs and 
toes orange ; webs dusky, Avith an orange line on each side of toes ; joints rather darker ; nails dusky horn. 
I am quite unable to account for such an unusual state of plumage being exhibited at this season ; it 
is, hoAvever, possible that birds in this state may not unfrequently be procured and passed over as 
females. 
The nest of this species is usually placed among patches of rushes on a dry part of the marsh. 
As a rule, I prefer a call-duck whoso wing is clipped instead of pinioned : the latter is a cripple for life, while the former may be set ■ at 
liberty when its services are no longer required. 
t These remarks of course apply to the old muzzle-loaders. 
+ Aly opinion as to the sex of this bird was afterwards proved by dissection. 
