224 BIRDS OF MIDDLESEX. 



a rare visitant from the Baltic, I should have pur- 

 chased the bird for preservation, had it not heen that 

 it was evidently long killed, and much disfigured 

 with mud and congealed blood. I therefore con- 

 tented myself with making a sketch of the head, 

 and noting down some particulars in my pocket- 

 book, when, on reaching home and referring to 

 authorities, I found my suspicions verified ; it was, 

 without doubt, C. immutabilis. 



Mr. Yarrell, who named the species "immutabilis" 

 from a peculiarity in the C} r gnets, which are always 

 white instead of grey, like those of other Swans, ob- 

 served that, " during the severe weather of January, 

 1838, several flocks of these Polish Swans were 

 seen pursuing a southern course along the line 

 of our north-east coast, from Scotland to the 

 mouth of the Thames, and several specimens were 

 obtained." 



SHOVELLER, Anas clypeata. An occasional winter 

 visitant, never appearing in any numbers, and, al- 

 though arriving in company with other Duck, always 

 separating on reaching the inland fresh water. The 

 habits of the Shoveller bring it nearer to the shore, 

 where it seeks its food in shallow water, while the 

 majority of the other species which visit us keep out 

 in deeper water, obtaining their food by diving during 

 the day, and coming inshore at night. 



Seldom more than five or six Shovellers are seen 

 here at one time. Occasionally I have known a 



