104 GAME BIBDS OF CALIFOENIA 



2.11 by 1.53 (53.5 by 39.0) (18 eggs in U. S. National Museuiii); color creamy 

 white. 



General distribution— Almost throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In 

 North America breeds from southern British Columbia and central Keewatin 

 south to southern California and east to southern Wisconsin; winters from 

 southern British Columbia aiid the central-eastern United States south to 

 southern Lower California, central Mexico and Florida; rare in migration on 

 Atlantic Coast, and of casual occurrence in Bermuda, Cuba and Jamaica (A. 

 O. U. Check-list, 1910, p. 69). 



Distribution in California — Fairly common resident in fresh water tule 

 swamps particularly of the great interior valleys. More numerous in winter 

 when the numbers are augmented by migrants from the north. Kecorded as 

 breeding, west of the Sierras, from the Sacramento Valley south to San Jacinto 

 Lake, Eiverside County. 



The Gadwall or Gray Duck is essentially a river or freshwater 



duck and is to be found in many parts of the interior of California. 



It exists in greatest numbers about 



those ponds, lakes and rivers where 



there are plenty of tules and weeds. 



It is seldom, if ever, found on salt 



water or on alkali ponds and lakes. 



^. ,„ _, ^ n .,, -. ^ , Practically all of the Gadwalls sold 

 Fig. 12. Top of bill of female "^ 



Gadwall. Natural size. on the markets have been procured m 



Note slender outline as com- ^he Sacramento and San Joaquin 



pared with bill of female Pintail valleys. 



(^g- 1^)- This duck, like the Mallard and 



Cinnamon Teal, breeds regularly within the state. Although there are 

 not many records of its nesting, yet it is commonly understood among 

 hunters that the supply of Gadwalls is largely dependent upon the 

 birds raised in California. The fact that this duck is usually seen in 

 pairs or in small flocks even in winter also lends support to the belief 

 that it breeds in the immediate neighborhood. The species of ducks 

 which breed in the far north usually gather in large flocks during 

 migrations and in the winter. Nevertheless, the considerable increase 

 in the numbers of the Gadwall found here in winter is certainly the 

 result of an influx of birds which breed farther to the north. If the 

 number of these ducks sold in the markets of San Francisco is a 

 criterion, the Gadwall is only one-twentieth as numerous as the ]\Ial- 

 lard. But as the former is less sought after as a table bird, this is not 

 perhaps a fair basis of comparison. 



In habits the Gadwall resembles the Mallard. But it is distin- 

 guished from the latter by its smaller size and gray coloration, and 

 by its more slender outline when on the wing. In the hand, the 

 Gadwall can be distinguished in all its plumages from all other ducks 



