DUCKS 



119 



ica breeds from southern British Columbia, central 

 Alberta and central Kecwatin south to southern Cali- 

 fornia, southern Colorado, northern Nebraska and 

 southern Wisconsin ; winters from southern British 

 Columbia, Arizona, Arkansas, southern Illinois, and 



In North America this ahiiost cosnio]iohtaii 

 species, the Gadwall, breeds mainly, if not en- 

 tirely, in the western provinces. There is reason 



Pholo by U. K. Jm 



GADWALL DUCKLINGS 



to believe that the (iadwall was once not uncom- 

 mon in New England ; but within the last half 

 century not many sjjecimens are known to have 

 been taken. Wilson believed it to be rare in the 

 " northern parts of the United States," and it 

 was probably always less common in the New 

 England States than in the West and South ; but 

 I am convinced, by the statements of the older 

 ornithologists and by descriptions given me bv 

 some of the older gunners, that tlie Gadwall was 

 more often seen in the early part of the last 

 century than it now is, and that some of the so- 

 called Gray Ducks which were then killed here 

 were of this species. 



The Gadwall is a swift flier, resembling the 

 Baldpate or Widgeon when in the air. It is 

 quite distinctly a fresh-water fowl, and gets 

 much of its living along the shores of lakes and 

 rivers, concealed by the reeds, grasses, and bushes 

 that grow near the shore or overhang it. It is a 



Xorth Carolina south to Lower California, central Mex- 

 ico, and Florida ; accidental in Bermuda. Cul)a. and 

 Jamaica; rare in migration on the Atlantic coast of the 

 Middle and New England States north to Newfound- 

 land. 



good (liver at need, and is seen usually in pairs 

 or small " bunches," often in comjianv with other 

 Ducks. 



When apjiroached from the land they usu- 

 alh' make no attempt at concealment, but swim 

 iijward oiien water and take wing, making a 

 whistling sound with their wings, that is not so 

 loud as that made by the Bald]iate. This is an 

 excellent bird for the table, which accounts 

 largely for its present rarity. It is fond of 

 grain and is easily domesticated. It breeds 

 naturally in the latitude of ^Massachusetts, and it 

 might prove a great acquisition to the game pre- 

 serve or to the farm-yard if it could be propa- 

 gated in sufficient numliers. It seems a promis- 

 ing sjiecies with which to experiment with this 

 end in view. 



The food of this bird consists of the tender 

 shoots of grasses, blades and roots of aquatic 



Phutu by H. K. Job Courtesy of Outilli; Pub. Co. 



NEST OF GADWALL 



plants, seeds, nuts, acorns, insects, nioUusks and 

 other small forms of atjuatic life, inclu<ling small 

 fish. 



Edw.xki) Hdwk l'"(iRr.L'sii, in Ciaiiir lairds. 

 Willi I'ljzvl ami Sltorr Binis. 



EUROPEAN WIDGEON 

 Mareca penelope ( Liinnciis ) 



A. O W Xumher jjCi See Colnr I'Llte I,! 



Other Names. — Widgeon ; Whistler; Whewer ; 

 Whew ; Whim. 



Length. — 18 to 21 inches. 



Color. — Adult Male: Differs from tlie ISaldpate in 



having head and neck uniform cimiamon-rcd : top of 

 head, creamy or white; rest of plumage similar. .Xdult 

 I-'kmai.f: Differs in having entire iiluniage more sut- 

 fuscd with yellowish-brown. 



