GADWALL. 531 



tinent it passes tlirougli Mongolia on migration, wintering in great numbers 

 throughout India and more sparingly in North Burma, China, and Japan. 

 On the American continent the Gadwall breeds in the northern United 

 States, extending beyond them as far as Vancouver's Island, the basin of 

 Lake Winnipeg, and Nova Scotia. It winters in the southern United 

 States and Mexico. The nearest ally of the Gadwall is supposed to be a 

 small tropical Duck {Anas couesi) inhabiting Washington Island, in the 

 Pacific Ocean, about a thousand miles due south of the Sandwich Islands. 



Although the Gadwall winters in this country, it must not be supposed 

 for a moment that it is one of the arctic Ducks. To North Germany it is 

 strictly a summer migrant, arriving late in March or early in April, and 

 leaving again for its winter- quarters during October, a few only remaining 

 a month later if the weather is not severe. It arrives in South Russia 

 early in April and leaves about the middle of October, whilst in North 

 India it appears in the last half of September and leaves by the end of 

 March or early in April. The Gadwall usually migrates at night, often at 

 a considerable height, and from time to time its call-note is uttered. 



The Gadwall is a freshwater Duck and rarely frequents the coast. It 

 is not very particular as to the choice of a haunt, and frequents the largest 

 rivers as well as the small streams, extensive lakes, and small ponds. It 

 loves the open water spaces as well as the tangled swamps where the water 

 is hidden by rushes, reeds, and aquatic vegetation of all kinds. On small 

 sheets of water and in rivers it usually occurs in parties of about a dozen 

 birds, but on large lakes it often congregates in hundreds. It is not very 

 active in the daytime, dozing on the banks, but leaves for its feeding- 

 grounds at dusk. In districts where it is much persecuted it keeps far out 

 in the open water, or skulks amongst the reeds; but in places where it is 

 not much molested it may often be seen walking about the shore, or even 

 feeding in the daytime in the shallow water. The Gadwall appears never 

 to dive except when wounded ; but in the shallows it often feeds with the 

 head and upper part of the body hidden under the water and the tail 

 upright in the air. Although shy and wary, it is a very sociable bird, and 

 flocks with almost every species of wildfowl, even with Geese. It swims 

 very lightly and buoyantly, and more rapidly than the Mallard, rising from 

 the water when alarmed with little effort. Its flight is strong and powerful, 

 and, when passing through the air, its long pointed wings make a peculiar 

 whistling sound. 



In India the food of the Gadwall is chiefly composed of wild rice, but in 

 some localities the birds commit considerable depredations on the culti- 

 vated rice. According to season, it feeds largely on the seeds, leaves, and 

 flower-buds of rushes and aquatic plants. This fare is also varied Avith 

 insects, larvae, small frogs, and worms ; and Hume states that in India it 

 often catches small moths and butterflies. Many water-weeds are pulled 



