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SPATULA YARIEGATA, Gould.
V a riegated Shoveller.
Spatula variegata, Gould in Proc. of Zool. Soc., part xxiv. p. 95.
A mong 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 (he Australian species, Spatula rhynchotis ; but it differs from it m
its more variegated plumage, and in other particulars, as will be readily seen on an examination of t e
accompanying Plate. Supposing it to have been collected at the same time as the fine Parrot Nestor nota-
bills the Middle Island of New Zealand will be the part where at least it is occasionally found. It is somewhat
strange that so large a bird as this duck should not have fallen to the gun of the collector before ;
vet on the other hand, how seldom does the common Shoveller of Europe ( Spatula elypeatd) 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. W Ê B SR
The Spatula variegata, which forms the fifth and is by far the handsomest species of thei genus Spatula is
distinguished from the other members by the dark crescentic markings which decorate the feathers of e
breast, sides of the neck, and scapnlaries. The species of this well-defined form previously described are
Spatula clypeata, which inhabits Europe, North America, India —
throughout Australia; 5. maculata, the habitat of which is Chili and probably the neighbouring countnes
of Peru and Bolivia ; and S. capemis of South Africa. . I W j H
Crown of the head and space surrounding the basé of the bill brownish black i on either side of th face
between the bill and the eye a lunar-shaped streak of white, bounded posteriorly with speckles of b k
cheeks, sides and back of the neck dark grey with greenish reflexions ; front of the neck dark brown eac
feather narrowly fringed with white ( back brownish black, the feathers of the upper part margined with
greyish brown /fe a th e rs of the breast, sides of lower part of the neck the mantle and scapu ar.es g l
with a crescent of blackish brown near the tip ; under surface dark chestnut blotched with b la c k fla n k s
lighter chestnut barred with black; lesser wing-coverts dull greenish blue; greater wing-coverts d.
b L n , fringed at the tip with white; first elongated scapnlaries blue-grey, with a Bgg|] ^»f white
down the centre of the apical half; speculum deep green ; p r i m a r i e s d a r k j j g g l ^ ^
surface of the shoulder white ; on each M T O H g bright" yellow ; bill dark purplish black,
coverts black, tinged with shining green ; tail dark brown , inaes nrigm ye. u ,
the under mandible clouded with yellow ; legs and feet yellow.
Total length, 161- inches; bill, 3 ; wing, 91; tail, 4 i ; tars,, U.