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Genus RHYNCHASPIS, Leach.

Grn. Cuar. Beak long, its base unarmed, semi-cylindric, the tip dilated, somewhat spoon-
shaped, with a small incurved nail; the sides of the mandibles with pectinated lamellze.

Nostrils medial, oval, basal. Tazd short, simple, furnished mostly with fourteen feathers.

SHOVELLER DUCK.

Rhynchaspis clypeata, Steph.
Anas clypeata, Lenn.

Le Canard Souchet, ou le Rouge.

Tue singular spoon-shaped bill bordered with numerous delicate laminee, which characterizes several species
of this interesting family, has been considered of sufficient importance to constitute the distinctive characters
of a group, to which the name of P/ynchaspis has been applied by Dr. Leach, and that of Spathulea by
Dr. Fleming, while Mr. Swainson retains the title of Anas to this group, as from the peculiar structure of its
beak, he considers the Shoveller to be the type of the true grass-feeding ducks: we have restricted the term
Anas, however, to the group comprehending the Common Wild Duck ; and having been so employed by our-
selves, and the term Spathulea having scarcely been adopted, we prefer the generic title of Rhynchaspis.

This group consists of several species, which are almost universally though sparingly distributed. The
range of the present species extends throughout the temperate portions of Europe, the northern regions of
Africa, and nearly the whole of India: in our island it appears to be somewhat limited ; doubtless a few breed
annually in our marshes, and Mr. Selby informs us that he has a male in his collection killed in the month
of July, at which period it undergoes that transition of plumage which assimilates it to the female, a change
the utility of which has not as yet been philosophically explained. As we have observed that this change is
common to the males of those species that more especially breed in marshes, among reeds, &c., and as it
generally takes place at the period of incubation, may it not serve as a protection to the species by rendering
the fostering parent less conspicuous at this critical period than he would be were he to retain the gay
nuptial dress, which would present so strong a contrast to the sombre-tinted vegetation among which it is
necessary for him to remain, until the young are able to provide for themselves ?

It is said to prefer lakes and inland waters to the sea and saline marshes, a circumstance to be accounted
for by the peculiar nature of its food, which consists of the larvae of insects, and freshwater vegetables, such
as grasses and chickweed: from this kind of food its flesh, as might be expected, is both delicate and tender,
and in high esteem for the table.

Its mode of nidification is very like that of the Common Wild Duck, the nest being constructed among
coarse herbage in the central parts of marshes, and the eggs, being from ten to twelve in number, of a pale
green colour.

The sexes differ considerably in their colouring, the male being adorned in spring and summer with a rich
and delicate plumage ; while the female is of a more uniform and sombre tint.

The male has the head and upper part of the neck deep brown glossed with green; lower part of the
neck, breast, scapulars, and sides of the rump white ; back blackish brown, each feather margined with grey
and tinged with green; lesser wing-coverts and outer webs of some of the scapularies greyish blue ; tips of
the larger coverts white forming a bar across the wing; speculum rich green; tertials rich purplish black
with a streak of white down the centre; middle tail-feathers brown edged with white, outer ones entirely
white ; upper and under tail-coverts black tinged with green; under surface yellowish brown with zigzag
lines of black upon the flanks and vent ; bill blackish brown.

The female has the whole of the upper surface deep brown, each feather barred and margined with reddish
white.

We have figured a male and female, rather Jess than the natural size.