BIRDS-ANATINAE—SPATULA CLYPEATA. 
781 
SPATULA, Boie. 
Spatula, Boie, Isis, 1822, 564. Type Anas clypeata, L. 
Rhynchaspis, “Leach,” Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. Zool. XII, n, 1824. Same type. 
Ch.— Bill much longer than the head and spatulate, widening to the end, where it is twice as broad as at the base. Nail long 
and narrow. Lamellae of the upper mandible very close, delicate, and lengthened, projecting far below the lower edge. Tail 
acute, less than half the wing. 
Of several species belonging to this genus, but one is found in the United States. Its essential 
characters are as follows : 
Lesser and middle wdng coverts and portion of tertials blue; cinerated portion of greater 
coverts brown, tipped with white; speculum grass green. Some of the tertials streaked with 
white. 
Head and neck green ; breast, unspotted white ; underparts, purplish chestnut. Tail covert 
greenish... S. clypeata. 
List of specimens. 
Catal. 
No. 
Sex. 
Locality. 
When col¬ 
lected. 
Whence obtained. 
Orig. 
No. 
Collected by— 
Length. 
Stretch 
of wings. 
Wing. 
Remarks. 
4409 
4410 
4459 
4458 
9741 
9738 
9750 
9740 
9759 
9746 
9743 
8 
9 
9 
8 
9 
May 8,1855 
May 17,1853 
Dr. Suckley .... 
169 
175 
16.87 
15.25 
25.25 
24.00 
7.75 
7.00 
Dr. Heermann. 
Mar. 11,1854 
Feb. 16,1854 
8 
8 
166 
J.H. Clark ... 
16.00 
25.00 
7.40 
Bill black, feet pale orange, 
iris yellow. 
Mimbres to Rio Grande. 
SPATULA CLYPEATA, Boie. 
Shoveller; Spoonbill. 
Anas clypeata, Linn, Syst. Nat. I, 1766, 200.— Gmelin, I, 518.— Lath. Ind. II, 1790, 856.— Wilson, Am. Orn. 
VIII, 1814 ; pi. Ixvii.—B on. Obs. 1825, No. 255.—Sw. F. Bor. Am. II, 1831, 439.—Aud. Orn. 
Biog. IV, 1838, 241 ; pi. 327.— Ib. Syn. 283.— Ib . Bird’s Amer. VI, 1843, 293; pi. 394, 
Spatula clypeata, Boie, Isis, 1822, 564. 
Spathulea clypeata, Fleming. 
Anas ( Spathulea ) clypeata, Nutt, Man. II, 1834, 373. 
Rhynehaspsis clypeata, (Leach) Stephens, Shaw’s Gen. Zool. XII, 1824, 115.—Bon. List, 1838.— Eyton, Mon. 
Anat. 1838, 134. 
Anas rubens, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1788, 519. 
Shoveller, Pennant, II, 557.— Lath. Syn. Ill, n, 509. 
Sp. Ch.—H ead and neck green; fore part and sides of the breast, with greater portion of seapulars, and the sides of the base 
of the tail, white ; rest of under parts dull purplish chestnut; crissum, rump, and upper tail coverts, black, the latter glossed 
with green. Wing coverts blue ; the posterior row brown in the concealed portion, and tipped with white ; longest tertials 
blue, streaked internally with white ; others velvet green, streaked centrally with white ; speculum grass green, edged very 
narrowly behind with black and then with white. 
