WILD DUCK. 143 
(244, GADWALL—(Anas strepera). 
-Rodge, Grey Duck.—A Duck which occurs in no very great 
numbers at any time; mostly about the end of the winter, or in 
spring; and is not known to breed commonly in any part of 
Europe. 
245. PINTAIL DUCK—(duas acuta) 
* Cracker, Winter Duck.—An early visitor to our shores when 
winter has once urged the wild fowl hosts to leave their northern 
nesting-places. It is not, however, a numerous bird with us, but 
abounds in many of the northernmost countries of Europe. 
246, BIMACULATED DUCK—(dnas glocitans). 
Rather a handsome bird in plumage and markings, but one of 
rare occurrence, and of which or its habits very little is known. 
247. WILD DUCK—(Anas boschas). 
Mallard.—By far the most common of all our wild fowl among 
the Ducks, but lessening, year by year, in the numbers which 
visit us. Within my own recollection many Decoys on the Hssex 
coast were wrought constantly and successfully, which for many 
years now have been dismantled and unused. I well remember, 
when I was a lad of ten or twelve, being at a house in Tolles- 
hunt D’Arcy, on the farm belonging to which was an active 
Decoy, and seeing the birds which had been taken in the course 
of one morning. The numbers were so great that many of the 
undermost Ducks, where the great accumulation had taken place 
at the end of the “ pipe,” had died of pressure and suffocation, 
and some even were sensibly flattened by the superincumbent 
weight of their fellows. The multiplication of shooters on shore 
and afloat has sensibly tended to lessen the numbers of the Wild 
Duck; while drainage ona large scale in many a district the 
country through, has materially lessened the number of their 
haunts. Still a very considerable number remain to breed, and 
