30 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



there, as in Norfolk and Suffolk, the bird seems to be increasing. 

 For the most part, however, the Gadwall is a rare and irregular 

 but widespread winter visitor to all parts of Great Britain and 

 Ireland. 



Superficially the Gadwall resembles a rather dark female Mal- 

 lard, but may always be told by the black and white speculum ; 

 the overhanging scapulars or the flufifed-out flanks often almost 

 conceal the white. Ducks, if watched long enough, usually 

 rise in the water to flap their wings, and then the white flashes 

 into view. As it frequently swims with Mallards, opportunity is 

 given of comparing size ; it is distinctly smaller and greyer 

 than the ducks, and in flight its wings look more pointed. 

 Crescent-shaped marks, grey in the drake and brown in the 

 duck, show on the head and neck. It swims buoyantly and 

 flies swiftly, its wings whistling, but its feeding and other 

 habits differ little from those of other surface-feeding ducks. 

 Normally nocturnal, it may, however, be seen feeding in the 

 day, paddling gently as it holds itself vertically in the water 

 with its fore parts immersed. Migrants, which reach our shores 

 from the end of August onwards, may be noticed at sea, but the 

 favourite haunts are fiesh-water lakes and pools, where, shy 

 and retiring, it seeks the shelter of the aquatic vegetation. 

 The note is described as a cackling quack, and by Lilford as '' a 

 sharp rattling note continually repeated " ; an amorous drake, 

 which with its neck affectionately stroked its mate's back, con- 

 stantly uttered a clear and deliberate, though not loud, ep^ ep^ 

 pair. The duck has a Mallard-like quack. 



The nest (Plate i6), seldom far from water, is as a rule 

 well concealed by its surroundings ; it is built of grass or other 

 dry plants, and is lined with dark greyish-white down, lighter 

 than the nest-down of the Mallard. The eight to tliirteen eggs 

 are huffish white (Plate 13), and are usually laid in May. The 

 down of the juveniles is similar to, but a little darker than that 

 of the Malbrd. 



