240 Manual of the Game Birds of India. 



enough to make the getting within shot 

 of him an interesting, if not difficult job. 

 Where, too, he has been much shot at, 

 one's ingenuity and perseverance will be 

 required before the game-bag can be 

 made to assume the bulgy appearance it 

 ought. Then, when you have got within 

 shot, the Gadwall proves a thoroughly 

 sporting bird : he is quick off the water, 

 rising rather straight up into the air, and 

 getting very soon well under way, and in 

 full flight the Gadwall is even faster than 

 the Mallard and, as many writers have 

 observed, reminds one much of Teal 

 in the manner of flying and the swish- 

 swish of the wings as the flock hurtles 

 overhead, leaving, let us hope, two birds 

 in response to the right and left with 

 which it has been greeted." 



The Gadwall breeds throughout a con- 

 siderable portion of Europe and in other 

 temperate parts of the world. Regarding 

 its nidification Mr. Seebohm says : — " The 

 nest of the Gadwall is placed under some 

 convenient bush, or beneath the shelter 

 of a tuft of coarse grass or rushes, at no 

 great distance from the water's edge. In 

 rare instances it is made at some consider- 

 able distance from water. The nest is a 

 mere depression in the ground, probably 



