ANATID^. 225 



cimens hanging up in Leadenhall Market, which had, no doubt, been sent 

 over from the Continent. 



The Pintail is very SL\arce near Plymouth. One was shot on the Tamar in 1853 

 (J. B., 'Naturalist,' 1853, p. 'JOi), and anothei* shot on Jan. 17th, ISfJl, was the only 

 one received by Bolitho in twenty years. A pair obtained in Plymourh Market were 

 sliot on the Taniar in the winter ot" 1862 (J. B. R., Trans. Plym. Inst. 1862-3, p. 78). 

 There were others in tlie Market in Dec. 1879 (J. G., Zool. 187'J, p. 48). 



Many are shot on Slapton and Torcross Leys every year, mostly immature bii'ds, 

 but some fiue-plumaged males have occurred. A male and female were shot on Kings- 

 bridge estuary, Oct. I5th, 1889 ; the male was still in the " eclipse" stage (E. A. S. E.). 



Pintails were numerous on Torbay in the winter of 1868-69 (Von H., Zool. 1869, 

 p. 172U). 



There are several specimens in the A. M. M., obtained on the Ese. Mr. Ross recorda 

 a male and a female shot on that river in 18-14: (MS. Journal, iv. pp. 43, 64). An 

 adult male was killed on the E.Ke, Oct. 9th, 1855. One was shot at Nether Exe, near 

 Stoke Canon, in Jan. 1881. A fine adult male was obtained at E.\;mouth, Dec. 17th, 

 1890. 



The Pintail is a winter visitor to Limdy Island. 



Wild Duck. Anas hoscas, Linn. 



Partially resident, many breeding in a few suitable localities in the 

 county where they are protected and in other retired situations. It is 

 marked as breeding on Dartmoor by Dr. E. Moore (Rowe's Peramb. Dart- 

 moor, p. 232). Scores breed at Slapton Ley, and many up the Avon 

 valley and at Thurlestone Ley. A great number are shot in the corn- 

 fields at harvest-time all along the adjoining coast, as we are informed by 

 Mr, E. A. S. Elliot. Many appeared on the Ivingsbridge estuary on 

 August 1, ]88y, probably driven off the Leys (E. A. S. E.), and a few 

 sometimes occur on the Exe in summer and early autumn. The Wild 

 Duck is very plentif al as a winter visitor on the south-west coast, immense 

 flocks being seen in Ijigbury Ijay, especially under Eolt Tail, where they 

 rest by day, Hying inland to feed at night. 



"White varieties have been shot near Exeter and Plymouth. A female 

 with a white band on the front part of the neck was shot near Topsham, 

 and we have seen other similar specimens. Varieties of different eolouis 

 have been procured in winter near Kingsbridge (11. P. N.) and on the 

 Exe estuary. A very curious variety of the male, without the white 

 collar, and with very little rufous on the breast, the speculum of the Aving 

 being i)ale black, and the head of a yellower green than usual, was shot 

 below Topsham, on the Exe, early in January ly77(W. D'U., Zool. IbTT, 

 p. 107). 



As before mentioned, in our account of the "Wigeon, a hybrid between 

 the Mallard and Wigeon was procured by Pincombe of Devoiiport ( JJelhim}', 

 Kat. Hist. S. Devon); and tlie liev. W. S. llure obtained a hyl)rid Ijotwoeii 

 the Mallard and the Teal, which is now in tlie possession of Mr. J. 11. 

 Guriiey. 



We cannot say that the Common Wild Duck is at the present day a 

 numerous species in general on our Devou.shire waters. U"nlej-sthe wiuter 

 is severe enough to send us Hoeka from the northern parts of the kingdom, 



Q 



