152 THE BIRDS OF DORSET. 



GAD WALL. Anas sirepera, L. 



Yarrell, iv. p. 370; Ilarting, p. 62; Seehohm, ii. p. 530; Pid- 

 teney^s List, p. 21 ; Cbaulelasmus streperus, Dresser, vi. 

 p. 487 ; Ibis List, p. 125. 



The Gadwall, or " Grey Duck," as it is locally 

 called, is a rare winter visitant ; and from the fact 

 that Colonel Hawker has no notes on this species 

 in his "Instructions to Young Sportsmen," which 

 contains so much interesting information about such 

 wildfowl as he had personally met with, it may be 

 inferred that it was never common here, even at a 

 time when wild-fowl of all kinds were more plenti- 

 ful than they are now, and breech-loaders unknown. 

 Two were shot at Poole in the winter of 1841 ; one 

 at Weymouth, and two on Branksea Island in 

 January 185 1 ; one in Poole harbour in the winter 

 of 1867; another at the same place in January 1879 ; 

 one at Fleet, near Weymouth, January 3, 1882 (T. J. 

 Mann) ; the last heard of being a male, also killed 

 at Poole, October 20, 1885. 



SHOVELLEE. Spatula chjpeata (L.) 



Yarrell, iv. p. 375; Dresser, vi. p. 497; This List, p. 128; 

 Anas clypeata, Harting, p. 625 Seehohm, iii. p. 554; 

 Pulteney's List, p. 21; Anas rubeus, young, Paltenei/s 

 List, p. 21. 



Although not so rare a Duck as the last-named, 

 the Shoveller is an uncommon bird in Dorsetshire, 

 where it is known chiefly as a winter visitant. Pul- 

 teney mentions one shot on a pond at World's End, 



