ANATIDif':. 



425 



THE GADWALL. 

 Anas strepera, Linnaeus. 



This species is a comparatively rare visitor to the British Islands ; 

 but the descendants of a pair of pinioned birds, introduced nearly 

 fifty years ago at Narford Hall, have greatly multiplied on the 

 carefully preserved estates of Lord Walsingham and elsewhere 

 in Norfolk, and have also induced perfectly wild Gadwalls to 

 remain and breed. Except in the above county and one or two 

 spots in the Midlands, this Duck is, however, uncommon ; though 

 it may be found in the London markets in spring and occasionally 

 in autumn. Its occurrence has been recorded in Radnorshire and 

 Breconshire, Cardiganshire and Pembrokeshire, but in the west of 

 England it is rare at any time of year. In Scotland it is now and 

 then met with on the east, while in the west and in some of the 

 Hebrides it is not infrequent, and is even abundant on Tiree in 

 winter ; and it is an occasional visitor to the Orkneys. In Ireland 

 its distribution is irregular, but the bird appears to be more 

 numerous than is supposed, especially in the west. 



The Gadwall breeds sparingly in the My-vatn district of Iceland ; 

 and, though not known to nest in Norway, it does so rather freely 

 in the south-east of Sweden, while there is evidence that it has been 

 found in Russia as far north as Archangel in summer. In Holland, 

 Belgium and France it chiefly occurs on migration and in winter ; 

 but in Spain it undoubtedly nests near the mouth of the Guadal- 

 quivir, while throughout the basin of the Mediterranean it is not 



