NATATORES ANATID^E ANAS. 343 



THE GREY DUCK, OR GADWALL. 



Anas strepera. 



tlate cix. fig. 343. 



(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 



Anas strepera, Lin. p. 200. Gadwall, Pennant, Arct. Zoology, Vol. 2, p. 575. 



A. id. Wilson, Am. Om. Vol. 8, p. 120, pi. 61, fig. 1. Bonaparte, Ann. Lye. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 383. Audcbon, 



B. of Am. Vol 6, p. 254, pi. 383. 

 Chauliodus, Richardson, F. B. B. Vol. 2, p. 440. Chaulelasmus, Gray. 

 A. id. Nuttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 2, p. 383. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 301. 



Characteristics. Mirror white, bordered by black and chesnut : feet orange ; webs blackish. 

 Male, blackish waved with white. Female, reddish brown ; rump uni- 

 form with the rest. Length, 20 '0. 



Description. Bill nearly as long as the head, straight, sublinear ; the teeth or plates long 

 and delicate. Nostrils sub-basal, moderate, oblong. Tibia bare for some distance. Tail 

 short, rounded, composed of sixteen stiff acuminated feathers, of which the central pair project 

 somewhat beyond the others. 



Color. Male : Head and neck greyish white, speckled with brown : bill bluish black ; 

 summit of the head tinged with chesnut-brown. Middle wing-coverts chesnut-brown. Lower 

 part of the neck, back and breast, exterior flanks and scapulars dark brown, with numerous 

 white crescents originating from the tips of the feathers. Throat and chin (in an adult in 

 full plumage) of a uniform buff; greater coverts, rump, upper and under tail-coverts jet 

 black ; interior scapulars and tertiaries greyish brown ; wings and tail grey-brown, the former 

 rufous on the inner webs. Mirror white, bordered in front by black. Under parts minutely 

 waved with grey. Female, smaller. Bill yellowish : feet pale yellowish. Head above 

 greyish brown ; neck, breast, and all the upper parts light yellowish red spotted with dusky : 

 a dull light-colored streak over the eyes. Young, uniform rusty brown above : each feather 

 marked in the centre with black. 



Length, 19-0-20-0. 



This beautiful species is rather rare in this State. It was first discovered by Wilson on 

 the Seneca lake, and has since been seen in other places, even along the seacoast. In New- 

 Jersey, it is called the Welsh or German Duck. According to Dr. Bachman, it has been 

 successfully domesticated. It breeds from Texas westwardly to the Columbia river ; in the 

 States of New-York, Massachusetts, Maine and northwardly : the eggs are greenish grey. 

 Food, small fish, shells, insects and aquatic plants. Its geographical range extends from 

 Mexico to 68° north latitude. Common to Europe and America. 



