528 
LAMELLIROSTRAL SWIMMERS — ANSERES. 
except in the extreme north; is found in Northern and Central Africa; and is said 
to have been taken even in South Africa and in Australia ; but the evidence in this 
regard is not wholly satisfactory. 
Mr. Salvin found it inhabiting the Lake of Duenas during the winter, where it 
remained until about the end of March. Colonel Grayson met with it on the western 
coast of Mexico, and Dr. Palmer obtained it at Guaymas. The former speaks of it 
as very common about Mazatlan from November to May. According to Dr. Cooper, 
the Shoveller, or, as there called, the “ Spoon-bill Duck,” is common in winter along 
the entire coast of California and throughout the interior, as far north as the Colum- 
bia, wherever the fresh water to which it resorts is not frozen over. It arrives from 
the north about the 1st of October, and remains until March or April, associating 
with other fresh-water Ducks. It is generally silent, and has at all times but a 
feeble voice. Its food consists of the same vegetable and animal substances as those 
eaten by the allied species ; but this bird has the advantage of a more expanded and 
sensitive bill as a help in finding them, and consequently becomes very fat ; its flesh 
is also considered well flavored. 
Prom the late Mr. Robert Kennicott’s manuscripts we take the following : “ Though 
the Shoveller goes in summer nearly or quite as far to the north as Dafilct acuta, a 
larger proportion nest farther south. A few breed within the United States ; and 
Dr. Hoy mentions it as sometimes nesting in Southern Wisconsin. At Slave Lake I 
first observed it about the middle of May, when they had already paired. It is highly 
probable that they arrived earlier, but from their small numbers escape attention. A 
pair commenced nesting at the Yukon about the 20tli of May. I found it rather rare 
at the north, though less so west of the mountains than in the Mackenzie Region. I 
did not see more than a pair of old birds together at any time. The few specimens 
observed were usually feeding in shallow water near the shore ; though they appeared 
to seek the grassy spots less than the other fresh-water Ducks.” 
Mr. Bannister states that this species was frequently seen by him among the 
birds brought in by the hunters of the Port, during the month of May, at St. Michael’s. 
Mr. Dali was informed that it breeds at one point in the strait between St. Michael’s 
and the mainland. He obtained only a single skin at Unalaklik ; and thinks this 
bird cannot be abundant anywhere near the Yukon. 
Dr. Richardson states that this species chiefly frequents the clear lakes of the 
northern districts, and breeds in the Barren Grounds ; but is found in consid- 
erable numbers, in spring and autumn, in the more southern wooded districts. 
Captain Blakiston procured specimens from Hudson’s Bay, and also from the Sas- 
katchewan ; and it was found on the Mackenzie River, within the Arctic Circle, by 
Mr. Bernard Ross. 
Major Wedderburn mentions the capture of a single specimen in Bermuda in 
December, 1844. It is also recorded as occurring in several of the West India 
Islands, Dr. Gundlach noting it as a visitor to Cuba, Mr. Riisse as having been found 
in St. Thomas, and Leotaud as being quite a regular winter visitant to Trinidad. 
In the latter place it arrives in December or January, and leaves in April or May. 
It occurs rarely in flocks ; and its flesh, owing probably to some local food which 
impairs its flavor, is not favorably regarded. 
It does not appear to be at all abundant on any part of the eastern coast of the 
United States. It occurs in small numbers, in spring and fall, in the neighborhood 
of Calais, but is not recorded from farther north. It is found occasionally in the fall 
in Massachusetts, but is not recorded as occurring there in the spring. Two were 
shot at Rye Beach in August, 1872. 
