as_, Linnaeus. French, "Canard
sauvage."---The Wild Duck is an occasional autumn and winter visitant. I
have never shot one myself in the Islands, but I have several times seen
Guernsey-killed ones in the market. Though a visitant to all the
Islands, I do not believe the Wild Duck breeds, at all events at
present, in any of them; Mr. MacCulloch, however, writes me word "The
Wild Duck formerly bred here;" and Mr. Gallienne, in his 'Notes' to
Professor Ansted's list, says--"The Wild Duck formerly bred in Guernsey
rather abundantly, but it seldom does so now. Last year a nest was found
on one of the rocks near Herm." This would be about 1861. The rocks to
the northward of Herm do not seem to me a likely place for the Wild Duck
to breed; however, there are one or two places where they might possibly
do so. A much more likely place would be in some of the reed beds in the
Grande Mare, or even amongst the heather and gorse above the high cliffs
on the south and east side of the Island,--a sort of place they are fond
of selecting in this county, Somerset, where they frequently nest
amongst the heather high up in the hills, and quite away from any water.

The Wild Duck is included in Professor Ansted's list, and marked as
occurring in Guernsey and Sark. There is no specimen at present in the
Museum.

141. PINTAIL. _Dafila acuta_, Linnaeus. French, "Pilet," "Canard pilet."
The Pintail is an occasional autumn and Winter visitant, but never very
common. I have one specimen, a female, killed in Guernsey in November,
1871, and this Mr. Couch told me was the only one he had had through his
hands whilst in Guernsey; and Captain Hubbach writes me word that he
shot one in Alderney in January, 1863. I have never seen it in the
Guernsey market, like the Wild Duck and Teal.

Professor Ansted includes it in his list, but only marks it as occurring
in Guernsey. There is one specimen, a male in full plumage, in the
Museum.

142. TEAL. _Querquedula crecca_, Linnaeus. French, "Sarcelle
d'hiver."--Like the Wild Duck, the Teal is a regular but never numerous
visitant to all the Islands. A few make their appearance in the Guernsey
market in October and November, and occasionally through the winter; but
Teal do not, as a rule, add much to the Guernsey sportsman's bag. In
November, 1871, a friend of mine told me that, after a long day's
shooting from daylight till dark, he succeeded in bagging one Teal and
one Woodcock. I was rather glad I w