WATER FOWL OF INDIA AND ASIA. QQ 
coloration is not distinct ; their narrow, well-fringed bill 
and orange-tinged feet will, however, distinguish them 
from any other species. The male in undress retains 
the wing-colours. The male is about twenty inches long 
with a wing about ten, bill about two, and shank about 
one and-a-half. Females are smaller. 
The Gadwall, like several of the Ducks of this section. 
ranges through the greater part of the Northern Hemis- 
phere, breeding in the temperate zone. In winter it is 
common in Northern India, to Assam, Manipur, and 
Upper Burma, but it is not known to reach Pegu, 
Tenasserim, the Peninsula south of Mysore, or Ceylon. 
It is a common bird in the Northern India, frequenting 
fresh water in general in large or small flocks. It is 
more active and graceful in its movements than the 
Mallard or Spotted-bill, and more noisy, though the call 
is weaker. Gadwalls are usually good eating, but may at 
times be ill-flavoured, as recorded by “‘ Chain-Snaffle ”’ 
in The Astan, December 20th, 1898, page 301. The 
male has a bony bulb in the windpipe, but I am not 
aware how his voice differs from that of the female, as ] 
presume it does. There was in the Indian Museum 
a very curious hybrid between this species and the Mal- 
lard, which was obtained in the Calcutta bazaar. In 
plumage it much resembles a male Teal (Nettiwm crecca), 
but its large size, yellow feet, and the chestnut and white 
on the wing show its relationship to be rather with this 
species. 
The Bronze-Cap. 
Eunetia falcata, BLANFORD, Faun. Brit. Ind., 
Birds, Vol. IV, page 438. 
VERNACULAR NAMES :—-Kala Sinkhur, Oudh. 
This bird, rather unjustly set down as a Teal, forit is 
of very fair size, certainly does not deserve generic dis- 
tinction from the Gadwall, which it most resembles in 
