GADWALL. 



ANAS STREPERA, Linn. 



Anas strepera, Linn. S. N. i. p. 200 (1766) ; Naum. xi. 



p. 659 ; Hewitson, ii. p. 402 ; Yarr. ed. 4, iv. p. 370. 

 Chaulelasmas streperus, Dresser, vi. p. 487. 



Chipeau brmjant, French ; Mittel-Ente, Schnarr-Ente, 

 German ; Pato castellano, Frisa, Ascle, Spanish. 



Yarrell, writing of this species in the 2nd edition of 

 his 1 British Birds/ published in 1845, states that it is 

 rare, occurring sometimes in winter, but more fre- 

 quently in the spring rather than at any other season 

 of the year, and then only in very limited numbers. 

 He goes on to say that Montagu, during the many 

 years that he devoted to collecting British Birds, was 

 never able to obtain a recent specimen : now, however, 

 the Gadwall may be considered as a common bird in 

 certain parts of our country, especially in West Norfolk, 

 where, as Mr. Howard Saunders tells us, the descen- 

 dants of a pair of pinioned birds, introduced some 

 thirty-five years ago, have so far multiplied and in- 

 duced perfectly wild Gadwalls to remain and breed, 

 that at the present time the numbers on one property 

 alone are roughly computed at fifteen hundred. I 



