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SPATULA VARIEGA TA, Gould.
Variegated Shoveller.

Spatula variegata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxiv. p. 95.

 

Amone 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 rhynchotis ; but it difene from it in
its more variegated 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 before ;
yet, on the other hand, how seldom does the common Shoveller of Europe (Spatula clypeata) 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 Spatula, 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; S. rhynchotis, which is found
throughout Australia ; S. maculata, the habitat of which is Chili and probably the neighbouring countries
of Peru and Bolivia; and S. 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 seeigulanies white,
with a crescent of blackish brown near the tip; under surface dark chestnut blotched with black ; flanks
lighter chestnut barred with black; lesser wing-coverts dull greenish ee greater wing-coverts dark
brown, fringed at the tip with white; first elongated scapularies blue-grey, with a conspicuous line of wine
on the outer web next the shaft, bounded posteriorly with black; the next blue-grey, margined on the inner
a lengthened lanceolate mark of dull or brownish white

web with white ; the remainder greenish black, with ae I
ark brown with lighter shafts ; under

down the centre of the apical half; speculum deep green; primaries d ibs | ae

surface of the shoulder white ; on each side of the vent a patch of white freckled with black 5 ae Q E
1 1 int ‘1 dark brown: irides. brig y: bill dark purplish black,

coverts black, tinged with shining green ; tail dark brown ; irides bright yellow ; pury

the under mandible clouded with yellow ; legs and feet yellow.

Total length, 162 inches; bill, 8; wing, 91; tail, 43; tarsi, le

The figure is of the natural size.

TCP SOR EAA

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