Wildfowl 4.5 



That of the Mallard is well known, and may serve as a 

 standard by which to judge the others. In comparison, the 

 Teal scarcely " whistles " at all. The heavy diving ducks 

 make a shriller and more whistling sound, the Golden-eye 

 being particularly noisy, whence its rather appropriate 

 synonym of " Rattle-wing." But none of these approach 

 in volume the clear whistle made by the Shoveler when 

 fairly under way, or the peculiar clatter it produces when 

 rising from the water. Either of these sounds can be heard 

 distinctly at an almost incredible distance in calm weather, 

 and are, alone, quite sufficient to identify the species to 

 accustomed ears. I only once saw the Shoveler on Bala 

 Lake, and that was on 26th February 1906, when a pair 

 of them appeared. On 3rd November, in the same year, 

 there was a single Velvet Scoter on the lake, but it did not 

 remain. Wild Geese I never noticed at all, but I was told 

 that two had been shot near Bala during the early months 

 of 1907. They were spoken of as simply Gwyddau wyllt, or 

 "wild geese," but from their description may have been 

 White-fronted Geese. On 8th March 1906, an adult drake 

 Goosander was seen, the only one during my visit, but a 

 keeper who was with me at the time said he had occasionally 

 seen them before ; a statement not at all unlikely to be 

 correct, seeing the marked preference always shown by this 

 bird for inland waters. It must, however, be regarded as 

 only a chance straggler here. 



As, whenever possible, the Welsh names of the various 

 animals mentioned in these chapters have been given, the 

 following may be added. I don't think I ever heard them 

 actually in use, but I was informed that they were applied 

 to the different birds. Golden-eye, Llygad-aur ; Shoveler, 

 Hwyad lydanbig, broad-billed duck ; Goosander, Ddanned- 

 aog, Sawbill ; and Teal, Crach-hwyad, little duck. 



