Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 5 (1901).djvu/181

Rh and some species, as the Goosander and Pochard, are usually absent altogether; the former beautiful species was never abundant, but the latter was once killed in some numbers. It is true the Teal, years ago, often nested in the Forest or in the valley of the Avon, but not in such numbers as to produce the enormous flocks which used to "swish" over one's head in the winter twilight; and I recollect an old sportsman once killing six Pintails at a single shot. No doubt the population has grown in the immediate neighbourhood, and we are well aware that bricks and mortar are not conducive to the presence of Wildfowl; and it may be that the lights at eventide from the various habitations which have sprung up along the seaboard from Bournemouth to Lymington often scare away the sea-loving species, and prevent them from ascending the river as they formerly did. It must not, however, be inferred from the foregoing remarks that Wildfowl generally have become scarce—only in a comparative sense—except with one or two particular species; and even if the mildness or severity of the weather be taken into account, no hard and fast line can be drawn, as some species are very uncertain in their occurrences, under what may be thought favourable circumstances—the Bittern is a case in point. Although such species as the Shoveler and Pochard are irregular in their visits, yet both are said to occasionally nest in the locality—in fact, last summer a pair of Shovelers were observed in two different places throughout the season, and yet, strange to say, I knew of but one (a female) having been killed during the whole winter upon the part of the river of which I am writing; whereas in the corresponding season of 1899-1900 I heard of at least a dozen having been shot. As far as I am aware, not a single Bittern was seen in this immediate neighbourhood, where in the previous winter, I am sorry to say, several were slaughtered.

The season just ended has been rather exceptional, as the following list will show; but it must be borne in mind that a considerable number of the Wild Duck (Anas boscas) and its allied varieties were reared by hand, and set free when able to take care of themselves, which no doubt helped to swell the numbers of that particular species, although many of them wandered to other parts of the river and were killed. The portion of the river about which I more particularly write would, in its windings, include some four miles of water, and the following species were shot, viz.:—Wild Duck, 700; Wigeon, 102; Teal, 94; Tufted Duck, 8; Golden-eye, 1 male (immature); Pintail, 1 male; Gadwall, 1 female; Goosander, 1 male (immature); Coot, 143; Moor-hen, 74; Snipe, 45. On another shooting a little farther down the river representatives of most, if not all, of the above species were met with, besides a few flocks of Pochards, from which several birds were killed, and at least two female Smews, and one female Shoveler, which I saw; and I am informed of some kind of Diver, possibly a Red-throated, having been