128 
COMMON SHOVELLER. 
tercrs. Mr. Selby states that it has been known to 
breed in the vicinity of the Tweed, and possesses a 
specimen killed in July in intermediate or changing 
plumage. We recollect once seeing the nest and 
eggs, along with the female, brought in to the late 
Mr. Wilson, janitor to the Edinburgh University, 
a most zealous observer of our native birds, and one 
to whom we are indebted for much of our early in- 
information regarding British birds. This was pro- 
cured somewhere about Guillon Links on the Firth 
of Forth, where there was then a good deal of marsh 
and small reedy pools of water ; the same person 
occasionally also received specimens during summer 
from some correspondents in the fenny countries. 
In its habits it is an inland bird, so far as we 
know being seldom seen at sea ; Audubon considers 
it as “ promiscuous in its feeding,” and states that 
it never procures its food by seini-immersions, nor 
does it dive unless when hard pressed. 
In America it is much esteemed for the table, 
and Audubon remarks, that “ no one should pass a 
shoveller to shoot a canvas-back.” In olden times 
they seem also to have been more in request than 
now, perhaps more easily procured. In the poetry 
of Howard, Earl of Surrey, the second course for his 
Grace the Duke of Norfolk, is made to contain, 
among other fowl, four seapeys, two shovellers, 
&c.* 
Out of Europe we find the shoveller in Asia ; Mr. 
* Dublin University Mag. for Nov. 1841. — Early English 
Poets. 
