By the Rev. A. C. Smith. 



161 



have designated it, " Spathulea," " Platyrynchos," &c. Though 

 by no means a common species in England, it is sparingly dis- 

 tributed every year over the country. 



" Pintail Duck." (Anas acuta.) There is no more elegant and 

 graceful duck than this : of slender form, with thin neck, elongated 

 tail feathers, and handsome plumage, it rivals our brightest and 

 gayest birds, whether of land or water. It is common on the 

 southern coast of England, and in Dorsetshire is known by the 

 provincial name of " Sea Pheasant," a soubriquet derived from its 

 prolonged tail. Sportsmen accustomed to shoot wild-fowl meet 

 with it from time to time, associated with the common Wild Duck, 

 Teal and Wigeon. 



" Wild Duck." (Anas boschas.) Though rapidly becoming 

 more scarce under the present system of draining, this is still too 

 common a bird to require comment on its appearance and habits. 



"Gargany." (Anas querquedula) . This is often called the 

 "Summer Teal," and though larger than A. crecca, it bears con- 

 siderable resemblance to that pretty little species, with which we 

 are so familiar. It arrives in the spring, and the late Mr. Marsh 

 used to describe it as by no means uncommon in his neighbourhood. 



"Teal." (Anas crecca.) This beautiful little duck, the smallest 

 of the Anatida), is well known throughout the county. 



" Wigeon." (Anas penelope.) As common as the last. The 

 enormous numbers of this species obtained by the fenmen and 

 gunners on the east coast of England by means of a duck boat and 

 swivel gun, surpass conception, and the heap of slain must be seen 

 to be believed. Mr. Waterton has proved that, unlike its congeners, 

 the Wigeon is not a night-feeding bird, but devours by day the 

 short grass which the Goose is known to pluck ; hence it is called 

 in Lapland the " Grass Duck." 



"Eider Duck." (Somateria mollisima.) This large and hand- 

 some species abounds in Northern Europe and America, where its 

 well-known down forms a most valuable article of traffic to the 

 inhabitants : so compressible and elastic, so soft and light is this 

 famous down that a large quantitjr which we brought from Norway, 

 and which when unpacked was enough to fill four quilts, was easily 



