kA-/ 
1890 
Mar 7-15 
Florida, 
Canaveral, Banana Creek. 
Very common about the bays and to some extent,also, in the 
ponds, as well as throughout the creeks, frequenting sometimes 
very narrow and winding ones, bordered by overhanging mangroves. 
The Shovelle” rarely associates, except incidentally, with other 
species of Pucks, but is oftenest seen in pairs or small flocks 
composed y of its own kind. The males were all in full plu¬ 
mage, and were decidedly the showiest bird found in these waters. 
While sitting on the water, the white collar around the neck, the 
green head, a white bar on the flanks, and the rich chestnut of 
the sides are all conspicuous. When flying the head looks very 
large , and black instead of greenish, unless the bird is very 
near i -flie chestnut seldom showsT the neck appears very long? the 
wing-beats are even, slow and heavy. I could discover nothing 
special about the feeding habits of this Di;ck, Like the members 
of the Anas group, they invariably feed in shallow water, submer¬ 
ging the head, neck and fore part of the body only, and never div¬ 
ing unless wounded. They are shy, and when shot at, rise with a 
single powerful spring, precisely like the Black Duck. They decoy 
very well indeed, and are taken easily in this way. 7/e found them 
excellent table-birds, next in order in this respect® to the Gad- 
rel and Widgeon. During the entire time I spent in this region, 
although I was among these ducks almost continually, day and night, 
I did not once hear any of them make any sound whatever ^ Mr. 
Quarterman told me that they occasionally utter a short, quaking 
note, not unlike that of the GadiwLL. 
ns 
