384 WEB-FOOTED BIRDS. 



Sp. Ckaract. — Speculum white, bordered with black and chest- 

 nut, feet orange, their webs blackish; tail of IG feathers. — Male 

 blackish, waved with white ; rump black. Female duller, rump of 

 the same color with the rest of the plumage. 



The Gadwall inhabits the northern regions of both con- 

 tinents, but does not in America, according to Richardson, 

 proceed farther than the 68th parallel, and in Europe it 

 seems not to advance higher than Sweden. In the 

 Russian empire it extends over most of the latitudes of the 

 European and Siberian part, except the east of the latter 

 and Kamtschatka. In their migrations they pass chiefly 

 into the warmer parts of Europe, being very rare in England, 

 but common on the coasts of France, Italy and Sardinia. 

 In the United States it appears to be generally rare. A few 

 of the young birds are seen in this vicinity ; and Wilson met 

 with it in the interior on Seneca Lake, in October, 

 and in February, at Louisville on the Ohio ; and near the 

 Big Bone Lick, in Kentucky. 



The Gadwall breeds in the woody districts of the remote 

 northern fur countries of Canada. In the north of Europe 

 they inhabit the vast rushy marshes; and in Holland, 

 where they are common, they associate in the same places 

 with the Wild Duck or jNIallard. They nest in meadows 

 and among rushes, laying 8 or 9 greenish-grey eggs. They 

 are very much esteemed as game, are very alert at diving 

 and swimming, and plunging at the flash of the gun are 

 obtained with difficulty. It is very timorous, lurking in the 

 marshes by day, feeding only in the twilight of the morning 

 and evening, and often till some time after night fall ; they 

 are then heard flying in company with the Whistlers, and 

 like these obey the call of the decoy Ducks. Their cry 

 much resembles that of the common Wild Duck ; nor is 

 more raucous or louder, though Gesner seems to have meant 

 to characterize its note by applying the epithet strcpcra. 



