GARGANEY. 1 63 



Proud of his shining breast and emerald crown, 

 The Wild Drake leaves his bed of eider-down, 

 Stretches his helming neck before the gales. 

 And sails on winnowing wings for other vales. 



Leyden— 5cme« of Infancy. 



Wild Ducks breed in several places in Herefordshire, when 

 they are encouraged and protected ; but places suitable for them 

 are becoming more and more scarce. 



The welcome margin of some rush-grown pool, 

 The Wild Duck's lovely haunt, whose jealous eye 

 Guards every point, and sits prepared to fly. 



Bloomfield — Autumn. 



There was formerly, so late as the beginning of the present 

 century, a decoy close to the great pool in Shobdon Park, on the 

 left-hand side of the road to Presteign. 



[Genus — Chaulelasmus.] 



[Chaulelasmus streperus — Gadwall.] 



[Anas strepera — Yarrell?^ 



Occurs sparingly on the coasts. 



Genus— QUERQUEDULA. 



QUERQUEDULA CIRCIA— Garganey. 



The Summer Teal, as the Garganey is also called, is a rare 

 visitor to Herefordshire. A specimen was killed on the Wye in 

 the summer of 1882, between Moccas and Canonbridge, and was 

 brought to Mr. Newman, the bird-stuffer in Hereford, to be set up. 

 The Duck is intermediate in size between the Teal, and the 

 Wigeon. The Drake is beautifully marked, but is not so bright in 

 colour as the Mallard, or Common Teal. 



[QUERQUEDULA DiscoRS — Blue-wingcd Teal.] 

 Once in Scotland. 



