114 tVATER FOWL. 



this Duck utters a low croaking quack. It feeds upon 

 grasses such as commonly grow in or near ponds and 

 streams, leaves and roots of water plants, and possibly 

 fish, if it can get them, and mollusks; but these last I 

 fancy it eats only when the other more natural food is 

 difficult to obtain. 



The male is a very handsome bird, and his stylish, 

 modestly colored dress makes him one of the most at- 

 tractive of our Water Fowl. There is a good deal of indi- 

 vidual variation in the males of this species, and some are 

 more darkly colored than others, and occasionally there 

 is a more or less well defined black ring on the lower part 

 of the neck. The female is a pretty brown and white 

 bird, with a wing somewhat similar to the male's, but 

 without the chestnut on the metallic spot in the center, 

 and by many she is frequently mistaken for the female of 

 the American Widgeon, to which indeed she bears a con- 

 siderable resemblance. 



From its secluded habits the Gadwall is not as well 

 known to the majority of American sportsmen as are the 

 Widgeon and some other fresh-water Ducks, and as it 

 keeps in small flocks and shuns decoys, the opportunities 

 for becoming acquainted with the bird's ways and appear- 

 ance are at no time very great or favorable. As a bird 

 for the table it is in no way inferior to the Widgeon when 

 both have had access to similar food, and in size the two 

 species are about equal, but if there is any dilTerence the 

 Gadwall may average a trifle larger. 



CHA ULELA SM US STEEPER US. 



Geographical Distribution. — Northern Hemisphere. In North 

 America ranging from Arctic regions to Mexico and Jamaica. 

 Breeds in the Northern States, and in the Arctic Regions east 

 of the mountains. 



Adult Male. — Top of head, rufous, varying in depth of shade 



