n8 BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



GADWALL. 



(Anas streperus.) 

 Order ANSERES ; Family ANATID^E (DUCKS). 



Description of Parent Birds. Length about 

 twenty-one inches. Bill of medium length, broad, 

 flat, and leaden-coloured. Irides hazel. Head and 

 upper portion of neck pale brown, mottled with a 

 darker tinge of the same colour ; back grey, of two 

 shades running in alternate curved lines ; rump 

 and upper tail-coverts bluish-black ; wings long 

 and pointed, small coverts reddish-brown, greater 

 nearly black ; secondaries brownish-grey, with a 

 conspicuous white patch on them ; primaries brown ; 

 tail-quills darkish brown, bordered with a lighter 

 tinge of the same colour ; lower half of neck dark 

 grey, marked with short curving lines of a lighter 

 tinge ; breast and belly white ; sides, flanks, and 

 vent marked with irregular vertical lines of two 

 shades of grey ; lower tail-coverts black. Legs, 

 toes, and webs dull orange ; claws black. 



The female has the head and upper part of the 

 neck pale brown, spotted with dark brown ; back 

 of neck, back, and rump brown, the feathers being 

 edged with pale reddish-brown ; the wings are 

 similar in markings to those of the male, but not 

 so bright ; lower part of neck, in front, and breast 

 pale brown, with broad curved bands of dark brown. 



Situation and Locality. On the ground amongst 

 reeds, sedges, rushes, and long, coarse grass on 

 small islands situated in lakes ; on the banks of 

 broads, pools, in marshes and swamps in Norfolk 

 only, so far as is known. Our illustration was 

 obtained in that countv. 



