372 anatid;e. 



weedy or rush-grown lakes and pools ; exceedingly sby ; and 

 quick at concealing themselves when disturbed ; their move- 

 ments are also nocturnal. Although generally resembling 

 the female of the Mallard, the Gadwall may readily be dis- 

 tinguished by the white speculum on the wing ; and in the 

 male the dark mottlings on the breast and flank are very 

 characteristic. 



The late Mr. Procter of Durham obtained a nest of the 

 Gadwall many years ago near Myvatn, in the north-west of 

 Iceland ; and in the same locality, in 1862, Mr. G. G. 

 Fowler shot a female as she rose from her two eggs, obtain- 

 ing a Drake the next day ; but the species seems to be rare 

 there. Mr. Meves has shown that a considerable number 

 nest in the south-eastern portions of Sweden ; but it is not 

 yet proved that it breeds in Denmark, although known to do 

 so sparingly in Northern Germany, and rather freely in 

 Silesia. It is numerous in Holland and in the marshy 

 portions of Belgium in winter ; but in France it appears 

 to be of somewhat rare occurrence on migration. In Spain 

 it is by no means uncommon in suitable localities, and the 

 Editor's statement (Ibis, 1871, p. 396) that it bred near the 

 mouth of the Guadalquivir has been fully confirmed by 

 Mr. Abel Chapman, who obtained the nest, shooting the 

 birds for identification. On the mainland of Italy it is not 

 often met with ; but it is common in winter in the marshes 

 of Sicily and Sardinia ; and it occurs in the cold season in 

 Malta, tlie Ionian Islands, and other parts of the Mediter- 

 ranean. It breeds along the valley of the Danube ; also 

 throughout n large portion of Russia, where its range is 

 known to extend as far north as Archangel, whilst in the 

 south-east, both in Europe and Asia, it is said to be resident 

 and abundant. Its migrations extend to the lakes of Northern 

 Africa and up the Nile valley to Nubia.* It occurs in Asia 

 Minor ; and in India, as far south as Calcutta, it is one of 

 the most plentiful species during the cold season ; it also 



* Mr. LayarJ was assured by the late M. Jules Verreaux that he had once 

 obtained two specimens of this Duck on the Orange River, South Africa ; but 

 the species has not been identified there by subsequent observers. 



