The Gadwall. "3 



Family— ANA TID^E. 



Gadwall. 



Anas strepera, LiNN. 



THE Gadwall* is amongst tlie rarest of the Ducks wliicli visit the British 

 Islands. This is made evident from the returns of the Ashby decoy, where, 

 notwithstanding nearly ninety-six thousand Ducks of various sorts were captured 

 in the pipes in thirty-five years, only thirteen Gadwalls were got. The derivation 

 of the name is not known, it is frequently called the Grey Duck, from its colour ; 

 also "Heart" Duck; and the Rev. C. Swainson, in his "Provincial Names of 

 British Birds," gives "Sand Wigeon" in Essex. 



In recent years the Gadwall has become very plentiful in Norfolk, having 

 been introduced in private waters, where it has thrived and increased to a remark- 

 able degree, and perhaps also induced wild birds of this species to take up their 

 abode in the same quarters. In Scotland, generally speaking, it is far from 

 common, except in one locality, the Island of Tiree, Inner Hebrides, where at 

 least for the last twenty-five years it has been fairly abundant. 



Messrs. Harvie-Brown and Buckley ("A Fauna of Argyll and the Inner 

 Hebrides," 127-8) say: — "Considering the scarcity of this Duck as a Scottish 

 species, we think it curious that this narrow line (or isolated locality) should be 

 so visited by them, and annually yield considerable addition to the sportsman's 

 bags. It has indeed been increasing in the number which winter in Tiree steadily 

 since that time, and by 1891 is denominated as very abundant in winter, flocking 

 at sea, especially outside Ballyphetrish reefs, on the west or north-west side, 

 sheltering inside the reefs in very heavy weather, and flighting all over the islands 

 at night to the mosses ; and many are shot every season among other wild-fowl — ^ 

 and on some occasions actually bulking in the bag above other species." Their 

 cry is peculiar, and, as Mr. Anderson says, " more like the croak of a Raven than 

 the voice of a Duck. They are easily recognized by it; they keep repeating it 

 after they rise, and until they are well out of shot." 



* The Gadwall closely resembles the Pintail, hereafter to be described, but differs in having the lamellifi 

 of the upper mandible more projecting, and the pointed central feathers of the tail not elongated. The first 

 feature has induced some ornithologists to put it in a separate genera, under the name of Chaulelasmus, a 

 Greek word, having reference to its outstanding teeth. 



Vot, IV. T 



