370 



THE GADWALL, OR GREY. 



made a cavity, in v/hich tliey ate their millet, mixed with earth. 1 

 put tliem into a room, and they carried in the same way, though to 

 little purpose, the millet and water to the deal floor. I led them on 

 the grass, and they seemed to do nothing but dig for seeds, without 

 eating the blades, or even the earth-worms. They pursued flies, and 

 snapped at them like Ducks. When I delayed to give them their ao 

 customed food, they called for it with a feeble hoarse cry, quoal; 

 repeated every minute. In the evening they lay in the corners ; and 

 (ven during the day, when any person went near them, they hid 

 llieinselves in the narrowest holes. They lived thus till the approach 

 of winter, but when the severe cold set in, they both died suddenly." 



THE GADWALL, OR GREY. 



The Gad wall inhabits the northern regions of both continents, but 



dpes not in America, 

 according to Eichard- 

 son, proceed farther 

 than the 68th parallel, 

 and in Europe it seems 

 not to advance higher 

 than Sweden. In the 

 Russian empire it ex- 

 tends over most of the 

 latitudes of the Euro- 

 pean and Siberian part, 

 except the east of the 

 latter and Kamtschat- 

 ka. 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 

 asso:;iate in the same places with the Wild Duck or Mallard. They 

 nest in meadows and among rushes, laying eight or nine greenish 

 gray egg.". They are very much esteemed as game, are very alert at 

 diving and swimming, and plunging at the flash of the gun are ob- 

 tained 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 it more raucous or louder, though Gesner seems to have meant 

 to characterize its note by applying the epithet strepera, which has been 



