45 



The Common and Ruddy Shieldrakes bead the 

 list of the genus Anas, of which the Shoveller is 

 one of the most common, the Mallard being also 

 a winter visitor. The Pintail Duck and Gadwall come 

 only occasionally, but the Widgeon, Teal, and Summer 

 Teal are seen in larger numbers. The Pochard, 

 and the Tufted, Red-crested, Whistling, and White- 

 headed Ducks are scarce, but the Nyroca Duck is 

 perhaps the commonest Duck that visits the islands. 

 The Red-breasted Merganser, Smew, Red-throated 

 Diver, the Crested, Horned, Eared, and Little Grebes, 

 with the Guillemot and Puffin close our list. 



Dr. Adams says: r" To the ornithologist there 

 is not much variety in the fields in midwinter. 

 Among the crops of cacti, (0. Op.untia), a solitary 

 song thrush or blackbird is occasionally seen; from 

 the dike -top the ringing note of the bunting, ( E. 

 mil aria), the chirpings t of the reed sparrow from 

 the house-top, robin, and the chiff-chaff utter their 

 well-known call-notes. A few song larks, and a 

 solitary pied or grey wagtail are occasionally observed; 

 but of all the midvyinter tenants of the fields the 

 tit-lark is the most plentiful. A stoneohat, or the 

 white-fronted redstart hops along some stony lane, 

 whilst small flocks of chaffinches are seen among 

 the tree tops. About this season of the year, when 

 the northern blasts blow strong, and the gregale 

 lasts for three days at a time, there may appear 

 such accidental visitors as the fire and golden- 



