THE GADWALL 223 



her closed wings. Such as fall sick, however, she promptly dispatches, 

 though what may be the motive for such summary proceedings is 

 not clear. 



THE GADWALL 

 [W. P. PY CRAFT] 



The gadwall stands conspicuous among the surface-feeding ducks 

 for the almost quaker-like sobriety of the coloration of the drake, and 

 still more for the striking character of the speculum, which differs 

 from that of all its congeners, consisting as it does of sharply con- 

 trasted patches of black and white, instead of some shade of metallic 

 green or bronze. If coloration alone is a sufficient basis for classifi- 

 cation, then those systematists who in time past set the gadwall apart 

 in a genus by itself were justified. But conclusions based upon 

 coloration are insufficient. The systematic position of the gadwall, 

 and indeed of all the other Ducks, has to be determined by a study 

 of far more deep-seated characters, and this study has yet to be 

 undertaken. Meanwhile, no classification can be regarded as satis- 

 factory. But this by the way. 



In its habits the gadwall resembles the mallard, but shows a 

 decided preference for quiet, reed-fringed lakes, and sluggish streams 

 where there is plenty of cover ; for it is one of the most wary and timid 

 of the Ducks, and hence has become largely a nocturnal feeder. It is 

 perhaps on account of its suspicious nature that it affects country 

 near the coast rather than districts far inland, and for the reason that 

 should its safety seem to be endangered, it can retreat to the open 

 sea. Even in winter it will seek such a refuge, contriving to secure 

 relief from the buffeting of the waves during stormy weather by 

 sheltering in the lee of rocky promontories. While feeding, the 

 female keeps up an incessant chattering: when on the wing the 



