THE GADWALL 293 



round the extreme rim and upper inside half of the 

 nest, which measured 10^ in. by 10 in. across, for 

 it boasted a big brim or blanket of down, neatly 

 woven in circular form round the inside edge, ready 

 to be turned down and in over the eggs at a 

 moment's notice, when their owner should desire 

 to leave them voluntarily. The ' egg-basin ' 

 spanned only 7 in. by 7^ in. by 2^ in. deep. It 

 was certainly shallow for a nest of its dimensions. 



The down-tufts, which more nearly resemble 

 Wigeon's down than that of any other British 

 breeding duck, though of fair size, are not so large 

 as those of that bird, and are considerably darker. 

 They are nearly black with small greyish centres 

 (the centre of Wigeon's down is much larger), and 

 with white tips, which, though distinct, are not 

 so pronounced nor so long as the Wigeon's ; nor 

 so long and wavy as the Shoveler's. The dark por- 

 tion of the tufts is nearly as dark, though not so 

 sooty, as the down of the Common Scoter. If the 

 Gad wall, however, through the loss of its first nest 

 (like all the ducks it rears but one brood a year) is 

 forced to lay again, the second instalment of down 

 (often very scanty indeed) is frequently of an 

 infinitely lighter shade, occasionally, indeed, as light 

 as or even lighter than Mallard's down, which, per- 

 haps, varies more than that of any other British 

 breeding duck. Normally, however, Gadwall's 

 down is dark, pale-centred, and white-tipped. This 

 certainly does not correspond with the description 



v* 2 



