ANATID/E. 



4i3 



THE GADWALL. 

 Anas strepera, Linnteus. 



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

 but in Norfolk, on the carefully preserved estates of Mr. A. Foun- 

 taine at Narford Hall, Lord Walsingham at Merton, and others, the 

 descendants of a pair of pinioned birds, introduced some thirty- 

 five years ago, have so far multiplied and induced perfectly wild 

 (iadwalls to remain and breed, that, at the present time, the num- 

 bers on one property alone are roughly computed at fifteen hundred. 

 Except in the above county and one or two spots in the Midlands, 

 this Duck is, however, uncommon; and when found in the London 

 markets it is usually in spring, though occasionally in autumn. Its 

 occurrence in August has been recorded in Radnorshire and Brecon- 

 shire, but in the west of England it is rare at any time of year. In 

 Scotland it has been met with on the east, while on the west, as 

 well as in the Hebrides, it is not unfrequent ; it is also an irregular 

 visitor to the Orkneys. Sir R. Payne-Gallwey considers that it is far 

 more numerous than is generally supposed in Ireland. 



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, nor is evidence wanting 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 wmter ; 

 but in Spain it undoubtedly nests near the mouth of the Guadalquivir, 

 and throughout the basin of the Mediterranean it is not uncommon 



