202 BIRDS OF TUNISIA 



greater part of the year, and breeds in the marshes near Djebel 

 Eshkul, from whence he has sent me eggs purporting to be of this 

 species. I have also an example of the bird obtained in that 

 neighbourhood in the month of May. 



According to Loche this Duck is resident on the Algerian lakes 

 though not so plentiful as it used once to be. It is even found far 

 inland, as Dr. Koenig says he had seen an example obtained near 

 Biskra. Colonel Irby states that it is exceedingly abundant in spring 

 in Marocco, where, at the lakes of Eas-Dowra, in April, he had seen 

 flocks numbering many hundreds, and that examples are frequently 

 to be seen exposed for sale in Tangier market. Favier also states 

 that they arrive during March and April, departing in October, and 

 that after the common Teal they rank as the most common Duck in 

 the country. The species has also been found in Madeira. In Southern 

 Spain the Marbled Duck is not at all uncommon, and breeds in the 

 " marismas " of the Guadalquivir, especially near the Goto del Key. 

 In the rest of Southern Europe, however, the species can only be 

 considered as of accidental occurrence. Further eastward it is to be 

 found in Palestine, more rarely in Egypt, Persia, and as far as Scinde 

 in India. 



In its appearance, flight, and habits, the Marbled Duck resembles 

 the Teal. It is gregarious and frequents marshes and fresh water 

 lakes, flies low and swiftly, and is excessively shy and difdcult to 

 approach. It feeds on vegetable substance, worms, and insects, and 

 its note is a low whistle. 



The nest is said to be like that of the common Teal, and plenti- 

 fully lined with down. The eggs are elongate in shape, of a greyish- 

 cream or buff-colour, and measure 45 X 35 mm. 



CHAULELASMUS STREPERUS (Linnsus). 

 GADWALL. 



Anas strepera, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 200 (1766) ; Malherbe, Faune 

 Orii. dc VAlg. p. 37 (1855) ; Erlanger, J.f. 0. 1900, p. 71. 



Chaulelasmus streperus, Bonap. Comp. List Birds Eur. mid N. Amer. 

 p. 56 (1838); Salvadori, Cat. Birds Brit. Mies, xxvii.p. 221; Loche, 

 Expl. Sci. Alg. Ois. ii, p. 373 (1867) ; Koenig, J. f. 0. 1888, p. 296 ; id. 

 . f. 0. 1893, p. 103 ; Whitaker, Ibis, 1895, p. 104. 



