imiTisii urn US' nests. 85 



GADWALL. 



Descriptio)! of Parent Birds. — Length about 

 twenty-one inches. Bill of medium length, broad, 

 flat, and leaden-coloured. Irides hazel. Head 

 and upper portion of neck pale brown, mottled 

 with a darker tinge of the same colour ; back 

 grey, of two shades running in alternate curved 

 lines ; rump and upper tail-coverts bluish-black ; 

 wings long and pointed, small coverts reddish- 

 brown, greater nearly black ; secondaries brownish- 

 grey, with a conspicuous white patch on them ; 

 primaries brown ; tail- quills darkish brown, bordered 

 with a lighter tinge of the same colour ; lower 

 half of neck dark grey, marked with short curving 

 lines of a lighter tinge ; breast and belly white ; 

 sides, flanks, and vent marked with irregular vertical 

 lines of two shades of grey ; lower tail-coverts 

 black. Legs, toes, and webs dull orange ; claws 

 black. 



The female has the head and upper part of the 

 neck pale brown, spotted with dark brown ; back 

 of neck, back, and rump brown, the feathers being 

 edged w^itli pale reddish-brown ; the wdngs are 

 similar in markings to those of the male, but not 

 so bright ; lower part of neck, in front, and breast 

 pale brown, with broad curved bands of dark brown. 



Situation and Locality. — On the ground amongst 

 reeds, sedges, rushes, and long, coarse grass on 

 small islands situated in lakes ; on the banks of 

 broads, pools, in marshes and swamps in Norfolk 

 only, so far as is known. Our illustration was 

 obtained in that county. 



Materials. — Dead grass, sedges, or leaves, lined 

 with down of a brownish-grey colour, obscurely 



