Dutcher, Rare Long Island Birds. 
Anas strepera. Gadwall. —Presented by Col. Pike, who says : “Killed 
in a fresh water pond near Speonk, Long Island, 1841. Formerly 
com raon.” 
Auk X, July, 18&3 p 270. 
198. Chaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall. — Rare. Mr. Henry Pren¬ 
tiss shot one on Lake Champlain in April, 1882. 
BuaN.O.C, 7,Oot,1882,p.25Q 
Bird Notes from Long Island, N.Y. 
William Dutcher. 
7, Anas strepera. Gadwall. —Mr. A. II. Helme, of Miller s Place, 
allows me to record a Gadwall Duck which was taken April 9, 1879, at 
Mount Sinai Harbor, Suffolk Co. It was shot by a gunner who reported 
having secured a similar Duck a few days prior. The last one shot was 
seen by Mr. Helme and positively identified; but the first one, although 
probably a Gadwall, may have been some other species. November 24, 
1886, a female of this rare species was sent to me by Mr. Andrew Chiches¬ 
ter, of Amityville, who subsequently sent to me the following note : “My 
brother and I were gunning in partnership; I was at the north end of 
Gilgo Island and he was about three-quarters of a mile west of me and to 
the windward. A flock of fifteen or twenty Black Ducks came to my de¬ 
coys and I noticed among them one which I supposed was a Pintail or 
Widgeon, but as they do not sell as well in market as Black Ducks, I paid 
no further attention to it, but tried to make the best shot I could at the 
others. The flock passed on to my brother’s blind, but would not 
come near enough for a shot, although they noticed the decoys. After 
passing, the Gadwall left the flock, turned back and lit among the decoys, 
when he shot it. Neither my brother nor myself ever saw one like it 
before, nor have we ever heard of one being killed around here.” The 
Messrs. Chichester are professional gunners who are well acquainted with 
the wild fowl that frequent the western end of Great South Bay. Mr. 
Giraud says of this Duck: “In this vicinity, the Gadwall is quite rare. 
My first acquaintance with this bird was in 1834, while pursuing my favorite 
amusement of water fowl shooting in the celebrated South Bay. It was 
flying alone, seemingly wandering about as if in search of companions. It 
passed and repassed several times outside of my decoys, without approach¬ 
ing within gunshot, but sufficiently near to excite in me a desire for hav¬ 
ing a better opportunity to examine it. I concealed myself with great 
care, hoping that it would approach within shooting distance, as I was in¬ 
duced to believe that it would, from the desire it exhibited to join the motley 
flock which my ‘decoys’ represented ; but as it advanced, it appeared to see 
that all was not right, and at the moment when my hopes were the brightest, 
it quickly changed its course, and alighted on a marsh about a half a mile 
from me. I gave quick pursuit, and after wading through the tall grass 
and mud, discovered it sitting on a bog, pluming and dressing its feathers, 
unconscious of its impending fate. Its perfectly neat appearance so en¬ 
gaged my attention, that I forgot that a gun was in my possession, until 
it took to wing, when the desire to obtain it returned, and I brought it 
down. On taking it up, although proud of this valuable acquisition t6 
my collection, I could not forbear feeling that Nature had been robbed of 
one of her greatest ornaments. I have since killed a few along the south 
shore of Long Island.” * 
Auk, V, April, 1888. p .173 ~/ 7 V. 
* Birds of Long Island, pp. 305, 306. 
