ANATLN2E — THE DUCKS — SPATULA. 
529 
According to Giraud, it is met with in small numbers on Long Island, where it is 
known to hunters by the name of the “Spoon-bill.” It is occasionally met with 
along the sea-coast ; but is much more generally found in the lakes and fresh-water 
streams, although never abundant in any part of Long Island. Its flesh is tender 
and juicy, and is deservedly held in high esteem. Mr. J. A. Allen met with this 
species in the valley of Salt Lake, in Utah, where he found it common. 
Our space would not suffice to enumerate the various records of its presence in 
different parts of the Old World, where it seems to have an almost universal distri- 
bution. Mr. Salvin met with it in small numbers near Zara, in Northeastern Africa. 
Mr. Saunders found it not uncommon in Southern Spain, where it was supposed to be 
resident, and to breed. Captain G. E. Shelley (“Ibis,” 1871) found it one of the 
most abundant of the Ducks throughout Egypt, where also some remained to breed. 
Mr. E. C. Taylor met with it in Egypt ; Mr. Tristram in Southern Palestine on the 
Jordan, and in the region of the Sahara. Mr. T. L. Powys records it as common in 
the winter in Greece. It was observed in Japan by Mr. H. Whitely (“Ibis,” 1867) ; 
and also in Japan and China by other authorities. 
According to Yarrell, it is chiefly a winter visitant in Great Britain, inhabiting 
marshes, lakes, rivers, and muddy shores, gathering its food in shallow water. It is 
most plentiful on the eastern parts of England, and breeds in various places, from 
Essex to Lincolnshire. "Various attempts have been made to rear this bird from 
the egg, but generally without much success. During the summer of 1841 a pair of 
Shovellers made a nest and brought out their young on one of the islands in the 
Garden of the Zoological Society. The bills of these ducklings were as narrow and 
the sides as parallel as the bills of some young Gadwalls hatched at the same time. 
The egg of the Shoveller is described as buffy-white, tinged with green, 2.17 inches 
long, and 1.50 wide. 
Yarrell says that this bird is not common in Scandinavia, where it is chiefly confined 
to the south of Sweden, and that it is found in Eussia and Germany, is abundant in 
Holland, and breeds regularly in the marshes of France. It also occurs in various 
parts of India, and nearly throughout Asia. Mr. Dresser states that it has not been 
found in Southern Africa; but Mr. Yarrell refers to specimens brought from there by 
Mr. Andrew Smith. Yon Heuglin speaks of it as a permanent resident in Abyssinia. 
In Nubia, according to Captain Shelley, it seemed to prefer the smaller pools and the 
banks of lakes and rivers, and to be less shy than other species of Water-Fowl. He 
speaks of its flesh as “ very inferior eating.” Dr. Jerdon, in recording its occurrence 
in India, speaks of it as feeding, near the edges of tanks, in shallow water, among 
weeds, chiefly on minute worms and larvae, which it sifts from the mud. 
Although a fresh-water Duck, it is not infrequently met with on the coast ; but 
its favorite resort is fresh waters overgrown with aquatic plants. It is not particu- 
larly shy, and is generally seen in flocks. It feeds on the seeds of various water- 
plants, grain, and minute water-insects, for which last its fringed mandibles are 
especially useful, enabling it to expel the water, and yet retain the minutest insects 
gathered in at the same time. On account of its fondness for insects one author has 
named the species muscaria. 
In Europe it breeds in May, June, and July. Its nest — placed close to some 
fresh-water pond or lake — is a hole scratched in the soil, lined with a few grasses 
and a considerable quantity of down plucked from the bird itself. In Denmark it 
breeds near the coast, and on islands in the fiords. The nests are usually concealed 
in the high grass or under low bushes, and contain from nine to fourteen eggs. 
Eggs have been found as early as the 2d of May and as late as the 24tli of July. 
vol. x. — 67 
