240 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



(BabwalL 



The Gadwall {A?ias strepera, Linnaeus) is a resident species 

 in some parts of the British Islands, nesting in some dis- 

 tricts in fair numbers. It occurs in both the Palearctic 

 and Nearctic Regions. The adult male has the head and 

 upper part of neck pale brown, mottled with darker brown ; 

 back and lesser wing-coverts, dark brown, edged with pale 

 grey ; upper and under tail-coverts, black ; median coverts, 

 chestnut ; greater coverts, blackish ; primaries, brown ; 

 speculum, white ; chest and flanks, dusky, margined with 

 paler; centre of abdomen, whitish; irides, brown; bill, 

 black ; legs and feet, dull orange-red. Length, from nine- 

 teen to twenty inches. The female has the upper parts of 



