NOTES AND QUERIES. 157 



and some species, as the Goosander and Pochard, are usually absent 

 altogether ; the former beautiful species was never abundant, but the latter 

 was once killed in some numbers. It is true the Teal, years ago, often 

 nested in the Forest or in the valley of the Avon, but not in such numbers 

 as to produce the enormous flocks which used to " swish " over one's head 

 in the winter twihght ; and I recollect an old sportsman once killing six 

 Pintails at a single shot. No doubt the population has grown in the 

 immediate neighbourhood, and we are well aware that bricks and mortar 

 are not conducive to the presence of Wildfowl ; and it may be that the lights 

 at eventide from the various habitations which have sprung up along the 

 seaboard from Bournemouth to Lymington often scare away the sea-loving 

 species, and prevent them from ascending the river as they formerly did. It 

 must not, however, be inferred from the foregoing remarks that Wildfowl 

 generally have become scarce — only in a comparative sense — except with 

 one or two particular species ; and even if the mildness or severity of the 

 weather be taken into account, no hard and fast line can be drawn, as some 

 species are very uncertain in their occurrences, under what may be thought 

 favourable circumstances — the Bittern is a case in point. Although such 

 species as the Shoveler and Pochard are irregular in their visits, yet 

 both are said to occasionally nest in the locality — in fact, last summer a pair 

 of Shovelers were observed in two different places throughout the season, 

 and yet, strange to say, I knew of but one (a female) having been killed 

 during the whole winter upon the part of the river of which I am writing ; 

 whereas in the corresponding season of 1899-1900 I heard of at least a 

 dozen having been shot. As far as I am aware, not a single Bittern was 

 seen in this immediate neighbourhood, where in the previous winter, I am 

 sorry to say, several were slaughtered. 



The season just ended has been rather exceptional, as the following list 

 will show ; but it must be borne in mind that a considerable number of the 

 Wild Duck {Anas boscas) and its allied varieties were reared by hand, and 

 set free when able to take care of themselves, which no doubt helped to swell 

 the numbers of that particular species, although many of them wandered to 

 other parts of the river and were killed. The portion of the river about 

 which I more particularly write would, in its windings, include some four 

 miles of water, and the following species were shot, viz. : — Wild Duck, 700 ; 

 Wigeon, 102; Teal, 94; Tufted Duck, 8; Golden-eye, I male (immature) ; 

 Pintail, 1 male ; Gadwall, 1 female ; Goosander, 1 male (immature) ; Coot, 

 143; Moor-hen, 74; Snipe, 45. On another shooting a little farther down 

 the river representatives of most, if not all, of the above species were met 

 with, besides a few flocks of Pochards, from which several birds were killed, 

 and at least two female Smews, and one female Shoveler, which I saw ; and 

 I am informed of some kind of Diver, possibly a Red-throated, having been 



