Congdon—Saskatchewan Birds. 
583 
The nest of this Teal is very similar to that of its near relative, 
the Green-wing. The place chosen for a site is usually on the 
prairie where the preceding year’s growth of grass has not been 
burned over. Here, not far from a slough or other body of 
water, a hollow is scratched out beneath an overhanging bunch 
of grass. This is lined with line grass and a warm bed of 
down from the breast of the duck. One nest observed was sit¬ 
uated on a knoll between two sloughs. The! long, dry prairie 
grass almost hid the nest from view. The hollow lined with 
down, was six inches in diameter and two inches deep. It con¬ 
tained eight eggs and another, broken, was lying on 1 the ground 
about two feet from the nest. The nest, was near a badger’s den 
and apparently had been disturbed by that animal. The earliest 
date on which eggs of the Blue-winged Teal were found was 
May 31. The nest was situated under a low bush and held 
eleven fresh eggs. On June 27, a female Teal was seen to 
leave her nest with four or live young just hatched, three eggs 
being left in the nest. On July 2, a duck of this variety was 
seen with a brood of eight young about two weeks old. The 
Teals, both the Green-winged and the Blue-winged varieties, re¬ 
ceive more than their share of annoyance from the Crows and 
some of the animals which now and then feast on eggs. Many 
nests were found with the egg shells scattered about, emptied of 
their contents. 
The eggs of the Blue:-winged Teal are very similar to those of 
the Green-winged variety. Their color is buff or light cream. 
The average size of thirteen eggs measured is: 1.83x1.32. 
142. Shoveller. 
Spatula clypmta (Linn.). 
The Shoveller is one of the most handsome ducks of this 
locality. The beautiful attire of the male with its glossy, green¬ 
ish black head and neck, silvery white fore-breast, blue-wing 
coverts, and brown under parts, contrasting so strongly with 
the plain dress of the female, is very striking. The bill, long 
and rounded, and with many large liminae, is altogether pe¬ 
culiar, and gives the bird the name of Spoonbill among the in¬ 
habitants. 
A nest found on June 5, was thought to belong to this bird. 
It was situated on the ground in long, dry grass near the edge 
