*HE WILD FOWL OP THE YANGTZE VALLEY. Si 



Of Duck the better known are the Mallard, Pintail, Sheldrake, Shoveller, Pochard, 

 Scaup, Golden eye. Velvet Scoter, Widgeon and the Gadwall, while the Teal include the 

 Common Teal, the Spectacled Teal, the Falcate Teal, the Garganey Teal and the most 

 beautiful of all, found only in China, the Mandarin Duck. 



There is also the Siberian White-eyed duck, spasmodic in its appearances, but when 

 met with seems to be numerous. Other birds uselessly shot are Cormorants, Coots, 

 Goosanders, Smews and Moorhen. 



Swans. 



The Whooper or Wild Swan {Cygnus ferus) is the largest of the genus and may easily 

 be recognised not only by its unusual size, but by the shape and colour of the beak which 

 is slender in form, black at the tip and yellow at the base. It is a comparatively rare bird 

 in China but may occasionally be seen in the hardest weather in small herds of from 10 to 

 15. Ordinary weight is from 18 to 22 lbs., while measurements from tip to tip of extended 

 wings run from 7 to 8 feet. 



Bewick's Swan {Cygnus minor) is very common all along the coast. At certain times 

 these birds may be seen in hundreds as they stand marshalled like soldiers on the ooze 

 round the islands of the Yangtze estuary. Its distinguishing mark is a large patch of 

 orange at the base of the beak. It is only about half the weight of the Whooper, averaging 

 about 10 lbs. The stretch of wing is from 6 feet to 6 ft. 6 ins. 



Geese. 



For sake of discrimination Geese may be divided into two groups : 



{a) Those having the " nail" at the tip of the beak white or of a very pale flesh 



colour. 

 {h) Those in which the " nail " is black (Newton). 



The Grey-lag Goose {Anser cinereus) is the largest of the Grey Geese, and weighs from 

 8 to 10 lbs. The bill, legs and feet are pale pink. The body buff with brown bars. 



The White-fronted Goose {Anser albifrons) not common in China. Legs orange, bill 

 flesh colour, nail white. Breast plumage shaded white with transverse bars of brownish 

 grey and black. Its distinctive white-band on the forehead accounts for its title Alba 

 frons, white-fronted. 



The Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythroptis). This is really the common goose 

 of China, and may readily be distinguished by its bright orange bill and legs and its 

 mouse-coloured upper wing coverts, to say nothing of its very conspicuous white face and 

 the broad black bars which cross the belly (Newton). It is what may be called an inland 

 goose for it is found throughout the breadth of China. Towards evening it makes for the 

 open waters where it congregates in enormous gaggles as may be witnessed by any who 

 pay a visit to the margins of the Hangchow Bay, the Great South Lake, or any similar 

 broad waters. 



In the early morning it seeks its food in the stubbles, on the plough land, amongst the 

 young winter wheat and in the bean fields. It is a greedy feeder, and so intent is it on 

 this question of food that it often may be very closely approached. The usual plan 



