MORE OF THE WILD DUCK FAMILY 231 



yards from where I was standing at the time, and 

 it was brought to me to be identified ; there could 

 not, therefore, be any mistake possible as to its 

 species. It was a solitary bird, and no companion 

 to it was seen above or below the place on the 

 river where it was shot. 



Sometimes this bird is captured with other fowl 

 in the decoys. One peculiarity of the plumage of 

 the Gadwall or Grey Duck is that delicate, half- 

 moon-shaped markings are on the breast. It is far 

 more alert and nimble in its movements than any 

 tame duck of the farm-vard breed, but the resem- 

 blance is nevertheless so close at quite a short 

 distance, that ordinary shooters, keen as some of 

 them are, have passed them sometimes, thinking 

 them to be domesticated ducks. Such a mistake 

 as this does not take place very often, owing not 

 only to the fact that the Gadwall is what may be 

 called an uncommon bird, but also to its shyness. 



AlthouQ^h this bird is a surface feeder, and not 

 strictly speaking a diving duck, I have placed it 

 after the Tufted Duck, because Norfolk is at the 

 present time its great haunt. In one part of this 

 county, within quite a short time back — six, or it 

 may be seven years ago — Gadwalls could be found 

 in great numbers, as they nested there, owing en- 

 tirely to the protection they received. Unless some 

 great and sudden change has taken place of which 

 I have not heard, no doubt the birds are now far 

 more numerous than they were a few years ago. 

 By giving protection to the fowl, we should get them 



