202 Poachers and Poaching. 



the rest to filter through two peculiar processes 

 with which it is fitted. It is rather a foul feeder, 

 swims low in the water, and is admirably fitted 

 for its special mode of life. 



The gadwall, which has been described as a 

 " thoroughbred " looking duck, is the rarest yet 

 mentioned. It may not unfrequently be passed 

 over, not only on account of its great shyness, but 

 because it so much resembles the common domestic 

 ducks. It is rare, too, as a breeding species, but an 

 experiment tried in Norfolk show y s how easily it may 

 be acclimatised. Here, on the South Acre Decoy, 

 a pair of captured birds were pinioned and turned 

 down, until now, these having bred and attracted 

 others, it is computed that between fourteen 

 and fifteen hundred birds are on the water The 

 gadwall affords admirable eating. The garganey 

 or summer teal is the smallest of the wild ducks 

 with one exception. Unlike the rest, it is not 



a winter visitant, but onlv comes to us in earlv 



j s 



spring on its \vay northward, and again in autumn 

 on its southward journey. It is an active species, 

 swimming and flying quickly. On land it feeds 

 upon water-weeds, frogs, and grain, and at sea 

 upon crustaceans and molluscs. A few of the 

 migratory birds are known to remain and nest 

 in the reed beds in Norfolk, though the great 

 majority seek their northern breeding grounds. 

 Blue-winged teal is a name given to this prettily- 

 marked species, which to those who know its 



