2o6 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



of the game-birds proper, and for this reason I would 

 suggest that the inland shooting of the wild-duck should 

 cease on February I in each year. To the coast-shooter, 

 whose bag of wild-duck at that season may consist 

 chiefly of foreign-bred birds, this curtailment of the 

 shooting season would prove a hardship. This objection 

 might be met by rendering it permissible to shoot wild- 

 ducks along the coast and tidal rivers, within clearly 

 defined limits, up to March as heretofore. 



The wild-duck with us is mainly nocturnal in its 

 choice of feeding-time ; it is an omnivorous feeder, grain, 

 grass, potatoes, acorns, insects of many kinds, molluscs 

 and shell-fish.; in fact few things, in their season, are dis- 

 carded by these hungry wild-fowl. In adult males the 

 extent of wings is from 2 ft. 8 in. to 3 ft, their total length 

 about 2 ft, and when well fed they will weigh up to 3 J Ib. ; 

 the duck is usually about 2 in. shorter in length and some 

 ounces lighter in weight Old ducks on reaching the 

 period of sterility will assume some of the characteristics 

 of the male in respect of their plumage. 



THE GADWALL, Anas strepera, appears to be slowly, 

 though none the less surely, on the increase, equally with 

 regard to the numbers visiting this country as of those 

 remaining here to nest Particularly is this so in East 

 Anglia, in Ess'ex and certain other districts in England. 

 If not so numerous in Scotland, this duck is certainly 

 found in several widely-separated parts of that country, 

 both in the east and the central parts ; and, as I know 

 from experience, it is also to b^ found in the extreme 

 west wintering in the mild climate of the Outer Hebrides. 

 With us the Gadwall appears to prefer fresh water, 

 although it may now and again be found off the coast 

 It is shy and retiring of habit, and when in the shelter 



