156 AiNATlD.E. 



that the Gadwall is not common there ; he only obtained 

 one nest, composed of dry grass and down, and containing 

 five eggs ; this was placed near the edge of the fresh-water, 

 in a marsh near Myvat on the north side of Iceland. 



This species is described by various writers on the Birds 

 of North America and the United States as being found 

 from the fur countries as low as South Carolina. 



The Gadwall, like the other ducks of this division with 

 long and pointed wings, has a vigorous and rapid flight, but 

 appears to dislike exposure, and hides itself among thick 

 reeds and aquatic herbage. This is observed to be the 

 habit of a pair in the Gardens of the Zoological Society, 

 which mostly conceal themselves in the long grass on the 

 islands of the ornamental water in which they are confined. 

 These birds bred there in the season of 1889, and again in 

 1841, laying seven or eight eggs. One egg left unhatched 

 in the nest was of a uniform bufFy white colour, tinged with 

 green, and measured two inches two lines in length, by one 

 inch eight lines in breadth. These Ducks feed on vegetable 

 matter, aquatic insects, and small fish. 



In the adult male the beak is lead colour ; irides hazel ; 

 the head and upper part of the neck light browm, speckled 

 Avith darker brown ; back grey, produced by an alternation 

 of darker and lighter coloured grey lines ; the point of the 

 Aving, and the small coverts chestnut, varied Avith orangc- 

 broAvn ; the greater coverts almost black ; jjrimaries nearly 

 black ; the secondaries similar, but the outer Avebs forming 

 the speculum Avhite ; tertials pointed, and of tAvo shades of 

 broAvnish 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, 

 Avith lighter coloured edges ; lower part of the neck in front, 

 and on the side dark grey, each feather ending in a half 

 circle of lighter grey ; breast and belly white ; sides, flanks, 



