NATATORES. 225 



single pair to remain about the fresh-water pools until 

 comparatively late in the spring,* when all the other 

 Ducks had departed except the Common Wild 

 Duck. 



GADWALL, Anas strepera. A rare bird in England, 

 where it is an uncertain winter visitant. So far as 

 I am aware, but one example has occurred in Mid- 

 dlesex. This was an adult male, which was obtained 

 at Kingsbury Reservoir in 1842-43, and is now in 

 the collection of Mr. Bond. The word " Gadwall" 

 is said to imply " Grey Duck," and its loud voice 

 has procured for it the specific term " strepera." 



The habitat of this species seems to be E. and 

 N.E. Europe; and the British Islands generally lie 

 too far west to be much visited by it. 



PINTAIL, Anas acuta. The Pintail is seldom found 

 in any numbers on the coast, and is considered to 

 be rather an inhabitant of fresh water. It has occa- 

 sionally been killed on our reservoirs and fresh- 

 water pools in winter, but its appearance is very 

 uncertain. 



It is a particularly graceful bird in all its move- 

 ments, and, from the way in which it carries the 

 head and neck, occasionally skimming the bill along 

 the surface of the water, it puts us much in mind of 

 a Swan. 



The food of the Pintail, when inland, seems to be 



* Latest stay observed, April 9th. 



