BRITISH BIRDS. 
349 
RED-BREASTED SHOVELER. 
Size of a Common Duck. Bill large^ fer- 
rated on the fides, and entirely of a brownifli yel- 
low colour : head large : eyes fmall : irides yellow : 
breaft and throat of a reddifli brown : back brown^ 
growing paler towards the fides : the tips and pi- 
nions of the wings grey ; quills brown ; the reft of 
a greyifh brown : the fpeculum, or wing-fpot^ pur- 
ple, edged with white : tail Ihort, and white : vent 
of a bright brown, fpotted with darker : legs fliort 
and flender : feet fmall, and of a reddifli brown co- 
lour.^^ 
In the female all the colours are fainter^ and 
the fpeculum of the wings blue.^^ 
This fpecies is fometimes taken in the decoys 
of Lincolnfhire.^^ 
