BIRDS. 217 
Anas segetum.—Bean goose.—Scarce, and only 
in severe weather. 
Anas erythropus—Bernacle goose. Very rare. 
Winter. 
Anas bernicla.—Brent goose. Rare. Winter. 
Anas mollissima.—lHider duck. Very rare. 
Winter. 
Anas nigra.—Scoter, or Black diver.—Not rare. 
Chiefly in winter. 
Anas fusca.— Velvet duck. Very rare. Winter. 
Anas boschas.— Wild duck. Common in winter ; 
they begin to arrive here occasionally as early as 
the end of September. Some are bred here. 
Anas marila.—Scaup duck. In winter, but rare. 
Anas tadorna.—Shieldrake. Uncommon. Breeds 
in- North Devon, and visits us in winter. 
Anas clypeata.—Shoveller. Very rare. Winter. 
Anas strepera.—Gadwall. Rare. 
Anas querquedula.—Garganey. Rare. Occa- 
sionally in summer, but more usually in winter. 
Anas penelope.— Widgeon.* Common. Winter. 
Anas ferina.—Pochard. Obtained in severe 
winters. 
Anas acuta.—Pintail duck. Sometimes com- 
mon in hard winters. 
Anas glacialis. — Long-tailed duck. Several 
specimens have been captured on the Tamar. 
+ A bird intermediate between the Mallard and Wigeon has been 
procured by Pincombe of Devonport ; the brilliant wing spot 
being very distinct. It is rather astonishing how prone some 
animals are to unnatural alliances even when surrounding cir- 
cumstances are but a degree removed from a state of nature. 
Montagu relates that in a pond appropriated to wild fowl, Widgeons 
have been known to form matrimonial connexions with the Pin- 
tail, although there was no lack of other Widgeons of both sexes 
in the same pond. 
Cre 
