GADWALL.
Y GOUS-HWYAD LWYD, OF THE ANCIENT BRITISH.
GADWALL DUCK. COMMON GADWALL.
Anas strepera. PENNANT. MONTAGU.
Chauliodus strepera, SELBY.
Anas—A Duck. Strepera—A factitious word from Strepo—To rustle.
THIS is a rare species with us, but specimens are obtained now and
then throughout the country.
On the continent of Europe it is met with in Spain, France, Italy,
Holland, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, Norway, aud Sweden, as
also in Iceland. On that of Asia, in Siberia, India, the country near
the Caucasus, China, Japan, and Persia. In Africa likewise, in (IK;
northern parts; and in America, from the Fur Countries through the
United States, to South Carolina.
In Yorkshire, two were obtained on the dumber, about the 10th.
of March, 1851; others near Doncaster. It has been met with, but
rarely, near York, and also at Swilliugton, the seat of Sir J o h n Lowther,
Bart., near Leeds. Edward Dawson, Esq., of Osgodby Hall, had a
male in his decoy in the beginning of 18o(>. In Norfolk, two or three
used to be shot every year near Yarmouth, on Breydon. Two were
on sale in the Cambridge market, on the 25th. of February, 1824.
One, of which Mr. M. C. Cooke has informed me, was procured in
the vicinity of Ingham, in Norfolk: and the Hon. T. L. Powys mentions
the occurrence of the species in Northamptonshire. In Cornwall, it
has been met with at Gwyllynvaae, near Falmouth, another at Trengwainton
Roads; aLo, though rarely, in Devonshire. In Oxfordshire, a
male was procured in January, 1833; and in the following year a
female, near Standlake; others in other parts of the county. In Hampshire,
it has been obtained from the Isle of Wight.
In Ireland, it has been obtained near Limerick, on t he River Shannon,