G A DW A L L .
GADWALL
A N A S 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 bruyant, French; Mittel-Ente, Schnarr-Ente,
German; Pato Castellano, Frisa, Ascle, Spanish.
Yarrell, writing of this species in the 2nd edition of
his ‘British Birds/ published in 1845, states that it is
rare, occurring sometimes in winter, but more frequently
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 Gad wall 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 descendants
of a pair of pinioned birds, introduced some
thirty-five years ago, have so far multiplied and induced
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