86 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



Subgenus CHAULELASMUS Bonaparte. 





(Male.) 



ANAS STREPERA Zm;^ 

 Gadwall. 



Adult male: Head brownish finely streaked with black and dark brown; sides of the 

 head pale brown mottled with black ; neck and breast mottled (black and white), the feathers 

 being black having a central white mark; under parts white (sometimes grayish white). Under 

 tail coverts are black and upper tail coverts and rump are black: speculum gray and white ; 

 the lesser wing coverts chestnut ; bill black ; feet orange. 



Length, 19.50; Wing, lo; Bill, 1.60. 



Adult female : Somewhat resembles the male but has the under wing coverts pure white 

 and usually little or no chestnut on th-e lesser wing coverts. 



Length, 19; Wing, 10; Bill, 1.55. 



Range : North America, breeding usually in the interior in the northern 

 part. It is common in Florida in winter where it is known as Creek Duck. 

 The eggs are usually from nine to twelve and huffy white in color. The 

 note of the male somewhat resembles the call of a deer or perhaps the 

 squeak of a door ; the female " quacks " softly. 



