BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. 161 



but for the too numerous gunners which frequent the 

 towing-path *. These Ducks, I am told by those who 

 have had opportunities of watching them, have a 

 curious habit of swimming round and round each 

 other in circles, with the head and neck depressed to 

 the surface of the water ; this they will do for hours 

 together. 



Colonel Montagu f had a remarkably small pair of 

 Shovellers sent him from a Lincolnshire decoy the 

 male, although fat, weighing only seventeen ounces, 

 the female not more than ten and a half (less than a 

 Teal). 



210. ANAS STREPERA, Linnaeus. Gadwall. 



One of the rarest of our Ducks. Only twenty-two 

 are recorded in the Ashby book as taken in the decoy 

 between the winters of 1833-34 and 1867-68 inclu- 

 sive, three being the largest number in any one year. 



Mr. Boulton had a male in his collection obtained 

 in Lincolnshire about eight years since. 



Another, now in the possession of Mr. Hoare, of 

 Tranby Park, was shot at S kerne, near Beverley, on 

 the last day in January 1871. 



* The Shoveller also nests annually, as Mr. Boynton informs 

 me, on Hornsea Mere. 



t Diet. Brit. Birds, p. 303. 



