THE WILD FOWL OF THE YANGTZE VALLEY. 3^ 



The Golden-Eye {Clati^ula glaucion) is one of the handsomest ducks that swim. Its 

 head is very dark brown or black, beautifully shaded with violet and green. The body 

 generally is grey, the undersurface grey terminating in white. The wings are white barred. 



The Velvet Scoter {CEdemia fusca) as pictured in Badminton is of a rich, velvety black 

 plumage: a white crescent-shaped spot under each eye: also a white patch on each wing. 

 The bill is oranged edged with black, and the lump at the base of the bill is also black. 

 Weight 2 to 2I lbs. 



It is hoped that the foregoing presentation of the chief distinguishing features of the 

 various species of wildfowl most commonly met with in China may be successful in 

 accomplishing even a small part of its contemplated object, which mainly is to foster a 

 more enquiring and intelligent observation on the part of the shooter, and to provoke a 

 keener interest in the beauty, the mysteries and the study of bird life. 



Three species of mergansers or saw bills are more or less common. 



(1) Goosander (Mergiis merganser) is more frequently met with when the weather 

 is intensely cold. It may be readily recognized by its bright red bill, with black 

 ridge and tip and its vermilion feet, its green black head and back and buff breast. 

 A handsome bird. 



(2) Red breasted merganzer (Mergiis serrator), a coast bird, rare at Shanghai and 

 not found inland, according to Mr. Styan. 



(3) Smew {Mergus albellus) Common, especially in March when they arrive from 

 the South. 



The lesser grebe or dabchick {Podiceps tni?wr) is familiar to everyone who goes 

 up-country, for it is with us all the year round, and much in evidence, though a very wary 

 bird and hard to shoot, for it will dive rather than fly, and dive, too, at the flash of the gun 

 long before the shot reaches it. 



Coots are common enough throughout the Yangtze Valley but are usually passed over 

 by the gunner though we have it on the authority of Sir R. Payne-Gallwey that " they are 

 excellent eating." They are a great nuisance when one is after duck. At Ningpo lakes 

 companies of teal and duck basking on the water may be seen encircled by coots. As the 

 gun is cautiously and quietly punting up for a shot the coots rise, flapping for a considerable 

 distance over the water before giving a sky line, and making so much wing noise that 

 the other fowl have ample time to change their quarters. 



Besides the foregoing birds there is a great variety of waders, herons, bittern, egrets, 

 paddy birds, curlew, golden, green and grey plovers, avocets, greenshanks, redshanks and 

 sandpipers of many kinds including the ever present snippet. The golden plover is a 

 table delicacy, but no one should ever think of shooting the other mentioned shore birds 

 and diving ducks except for the purpose of having them stuffed and mounted for their own 

 collections or for the Museum. 



It would be very difficult to say where wild fowl may not be come across in the Yangtze 

 Valley during the winter months, for they literally are here, there and everywhere. They 

 swarm along the northern margin of the Hangchow Bay, and are in countless numbers 

 in the numerous islands in the estuary of the river, while for more than a thousand miles 



