ANATIDA. 481 
aquatic insects, small fry, spawn of fish and frogs, 
also the shoots of water-plants, blades of grass and 
seeds of various kinds.* Like other Ducks, too, it is 
tolerably easy to keep in confinement, and has been 
known to breed in this state in the Zoological 
Gardens. 
In a wild state the nest is said to be composed of 
dry grass and down. 
In plumage the Gadwall is on the whole rather a 
dull-looking bird, in comparison with many of our 
other Ducks. ‘The adult male has the bill lead- 
colour ; irides hazel; the head and upper part of the 
neck light brown, speckled with darker brown; the 
back grey, produced by an alternation of darker and 
lighter-coloured grey lines; the point of the wing 
and the small coverts chesnut, varied with orange- 
brown; the greater coverts almost black; primaries 
nearly+black ; the secondaries similar, but the outer 
webs forming the speculum white; tertials pointed, 
and two shades of* brownish grey, the darker colour 
occupying the centre of each feather, the lighter 
colour forming the margin; rump and upper tail- 
coverts bluish black; tail-feathers dark brown, with 
lighter-coloured edges; the lower part of the neck in 
front and on the sides dark grey, each feather ending 
in a half-circle of lighter grey; breast and belly 
white; sides, flanks and vent covered with two shades 
* Meyer's ‘ British Birds,’ vol. vi., p. 85. 
2 T 
