ANATIDyE. 231 



staying for three weeks they disappeared. In Dorsetshire, the Shoveller 

 appears to be less common, and its having nested at Ilsington (' Zoologist,' 

 1857, J). 5757) is considered by Mr. Mansel-Pleydell to have been an 

 exceptional case. Mr. Itodd states that the Shoveller is not uncommon in 

 Cornwall. 



The singular beak of the Shoveller serves as a perfect colander, with 

 which the bird skims and strains the surface-water, thus securing the 

 animalcula &c. on which it feeds. 



Dr. E. Moore records two specimens only. A pair occurred at Plymouth in 1853, 

 and anotlier in the spring of 1^!55. Examples from the Taiiiar are in Mr. Brooking 

 Eowe's collection. Five occurred (three adult males and two females) in Plymouth 

 Market, February 7th, and tliree more on February 1-lth, 1874 ; some in November 

 1877 : several in December 1878 ; and five in November 1879 (J. G., Zool. 1874, 

 pp. 3944, ;i949; 1878, p. 54; 1879, p. 115; 1880, p. 48). One at Strode, in the 

 parish of Modbury, S. Devon, in December 1879 (Rev. Gr. C. Green, Trans. Devon. 

 Assoc. 1880, p. 93). Seven (two drakes and five ducks) frequented Torcross Ley in 

 the winter of 1887-8 (E. A. S. E.). In January 1891, Mr. Walter Toll saw quite two 

 hundred feeding together, and sliot sonie, on Slapton Ley (E. P. N. m lift.). 



There is a Slioveller from tlie Dart in the Torquay IMuseum. A young female was 

 shot on the Ese in September 1841 (F. W. L. R., MS. Journ. iii. p. 107). A pair 

 there April 18()7. Five seen on the Exeter Canal in tlie winter of 1874-5. A nearly 

 adult male was shot at Brampford Speke, December 13th, 1875, and tvi^o were killed 

 on the Exeter Canal in the winter of 1875-(>. A pair on the Taw, March 1870; and 

 one on the north coast of Devon, November 1873 (M. A. M., Zool. 1870, p. 2144; 

 1873, p. 3825). 



Red-crested Pochard. FuUgula rufina (Pallas). 



An accidental visitor of extremely rare occurrence. 



This beautiful species, an inhabitant of Southern and Eastern Europe, 

 very rarely strays as far as our kingdom, and the examples of it have been 

 chiefly obtained on the eastern coast of England. However, Mr. G. F. 

 Mathcw, happening to go into the bird-stuffer's shop at Earnstaple on the 

 21st iJecember, 1807, saw lying on the counter a very fine adult drake 

 lled-crested Pochard, which had been just sent in from Praunton, where 

 it had been shot on the Ihirrows ((i. E. M., Zool. 18(!8, p. 1008). This 

 bird was purchased b}'' Mr. Marsh-Dunn for his collection, and is the 

 only instance of the occurrence of the species in Devonshire. There are 

 three other West of England examides we may mention. ]\Ir. Eodd 

 records one which was shot on the Swanpool, at Ealmouth, in Eebruary 

 1845, sold in the market for sixpence, plucked, and eaten ! Eortunately, 

 it had first been seen by Mr. "W. P. Cocks, who recognized it and reported 

 it. Then, Mr. Mansel-Pleydell states that a Ked-crestcl Pochard, in 

 the possession of Lord Portman, was shot on the Stour, at Bryanston, at 

 the commencement of this century; and for the third West Country 

 example we have to cross the Jiristol Channel to the Pembrokeshire coast, 

 where a female was shot by Mr. Tracy on Lord Cawdor's estate at Stack- 

 ])ole, whicli was sii]mo([iiently ])re.sented by Lord Cawdor to the National 

 Collection, and ia still, wc believe, to be seen at South Kensington. In 



