ANA TID^-DUCKS. 



20S 



Shoveller : Spatula dypeata. 



Fairly common on our coast from autumn to spring, and occa- 

 sionally met with inland. It breeds regularly, though in small num- 

 bers, in several parts of Britain, and a few pairs nest annually among 

 the marshes on our coast. 



Mr. Clarke notes (24) a male shot at Debden by Mr. Salmon on Mar. 28th, 

 1839. Mr. W. H. Hill, of Southminster, in 1835 (12. viii. 574) says, it " is rarely 

 killed [in that district]. I have seen one pair this winter." Mr, Crouch has (44. 

 iii. V.) a specimen shot on the Roding at Barkingside on Oct. 27th, 1881, after a 

 week of \txy severe weather. 



Mr. Crosfield, of Reigate, informs me that he put a drake up from Dagenham 

 Lake on April 2gth, 1879, when it seems probable that it was breeding. Mr. Hope 

 writes that it " breeds on the marshes not far from Harwich." He shot one th.re 

 on Aug. 1st, 1884. Mr. Fitch and m3'^self observed a pair on the Old Hall Marshes, 

 Tollesbury, on June 12th, 1888, which the keepers informed us had bred there that 

 spring ; and in 1889, according to Dr. Salter, a considerable number bred on these 

 marshes, where he says it is becoming commoner as a breeding bird. In a MS. 

 letter of Col. Russell's, he says : — Several pairs " stay every summer in our place 

 in Essex [? Stubbers], and probably breed there, but their habit is to go south 

 soon after thej- can fly well." 



Tufted Duck : Fiiligula mstata. 



A somewhat rare and irregular winter visitor ; occasionally 

 with on lakes or rivers in various parts of the county, but most 

 near the coast. 

 It has not yet 

 been positively 

 known to breed 

 in Essex, but 

 may do so, as it 

 appears to be a 

 resident and ir,- 

 creasing in num- 

 bers in variou-. 

 parts of the 

 country. 



Graves says (7. 

 iii) :- 



" Some we re- 

 ceived alive from a 

 decoy near Mal- 



met 

 often 



TUFTED DUCKS, iiialc and feiiialc, i/S. 



don, Essex, were exceedingly wild and survived but a few days. During their 

 confinement, on the approach of anyone, they uttered a hissing noise like the 

 Common Goose, and were continually snapping their bills. They have many of 

 the actions of the Teal, but are a far less elegant species." 



Mr. Clarke speaks (24) of one at Littlebury on Feb. 2nd, 1832, and one at 

 Audley End in 1835. Earthy, in March, 1839, records (19. 114) the recent occur- 

 rence of one at Marks Hall. On Mar. 20th, 1867, a flock appeared on the River 



