SPATULA VARIEGATA, Gould. 
Variegated Shoveller. 
Spatula variegata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soe., part xxiv. p. 95, 
Amonc the novelties brought by Mr, Walter Mantell from New Zealand was a species of Shoveller Duck, 
which is certainly new to science, for with no one of the members of this well-defined genus of typical ducks 
can it be confounded. Its nearest ally is the Australian species, Spatula rhyachotis ; but it differs from it m 
its more yariegated plumage, and in other particulars, as will be readily seen on an examination of the 
accompanying Plate. Supposing it to have been collected at the same time as the fine Parrot Nestor nota- 
bilis, the Middle Island of New Zealand will be the part where at least it is occasionally found. — It is some- 
what strange that so large a bird as this duck should not have fallen to the gun of the collector betore ; 
yet, on the other hand, how seldom does the common Shoveller of Europe (Spatade elypeata) fall before 
the gun of the sportsman ; even in the parts of England where it is most common, he may pass years without 
an opportunity occurring for shooting one, 
The Spatula variegata, which forms the fifth and is by far the handsomest species of the genus Spatuda, is 
distinguished from the other members by the dark crescentic markings which decorate the feathers of the 
breast, sides of the neck, and scapularies. The species of this well-defined form previously described are 
Spatula clypeata, which inhabits Europe, North America, India and China; 8. rhynehotis, which is found 
throughout Australia ; S. maculata, the habitat of which is Chili and probably the neighbouring countries 
of Peru and Bolivia; and .§. capensis of South Africa. 
Crown of the head and space surrounding the base of the bill brownish black; on either side of the face 
between the bill and the eye a lunar-shaped streak of white, bounded posteriorly with speckles of black ; 
cheeks, sides and back of the neck dark grey with greenish reflexions ; front of the neck dark brown, each 
feather narrowly fringed with white ; back brownish black, the feathers of the upper part margined with 
greyish brown ; feathers of the breast, sides of lower part of the neck, the mantle and scapularies white, 
with a crescent of blackish brown near the tip; ander surface dark chestnut blotched with black ; flanks 
lighter chestnut barred with black; lesser wing-coverts dull greenish blue ; greater wing-coverts dark 
brown, fringed at the tip with white; first elongated scapularies blue-grey, with a conspicuous line of white 
outer web next the shaft, bounded posteriorly with black ; the next blue-grey, margined on the mner 
black, with a lengthened lanceolate mark of dull or brownish white 
aries dark brown with lighter shafts ; under 
on the 
web with white; the remainder greenish 
down the centre of the apical half; speculum deep green; prim 
ach side of the vent a patch of white freckled with black; under tail- 
surface of the shoulder white ; on e ) | 
n; tail dark brown; irides bright yellow; bill dark purplish black, 
coverts black, tinged with shiming gree 
the under mandible clouded with yellow ; legs and feet yellow. 
Total length, 162 inches ; bill, 3; wing, 94; tail, 44; tarsi, If. 
The figure is of the natural size. 
