COMMON SHOVELLER. 
129 
Jerdon states it to be common over all India. In 
North America we have descriptions both in Wilson 
and Audubon, and the Prince of Canino has placed 
it as identical with our native bird. Mr. Audubon 
considers it scarce in the United States ; “ and al- 
though many pass north and breed in the fur coun- 
tries, a greater number spend the summer in the 
Texas and the districts farther westward; they 
were found breeding in Texas in the month of May. 
Dr. Smith brought the shoveller from Africa, * and 
Mr. Temminck records it from Japan, so that its 
range seems more extensive than almost any other 
British species. 
Bill black, the head and neck in some lights ap- 
pear brown, in others, rich green, but anterior t« 
the eyes, and on the crown and throat, there is the 
least reflection of the bright colour ; lower parts of 
the neck, breast, scapulars and sides of the rump, 
pure white ; back blackish brown, gradually shading 
to greenish black on the rump and upper tail-covers ; 
whole of the wing anterior to the greater covers with 
the outer webs of the Large scapulars, greyish blue ; 
the latter have a remarkable form, the inner white 
web being produced in a narrow point beyond the 
outer ; the lower scapulars are blackish green, the 
tips along the shafts for a narrow space, white ; lesser 
covers clovc-brown with white tips, secondaries 
bright green ; belly, vent, and flanks, chestnut- 
brown ; under tail-covers glossy blackish green ; 
tail clove-brown, with pale edges. 
* Yarrell. 
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