"4 BRITISH BIRDS. WITH THEIR NESTS AND EGGS. 



"As many as thirty or forty have been shot by one shooting party in Tiree, 

 in the winter of 1878-79." 



Sir R. Payne-Gallwey thinks the Gadwall is more frequently shot in Ireland 

 than is generally supposed. It is very fond of fresh water lakes and lonely pools 

 abounding with reed and rushes, acres of equisetum and bog-bean (Menyanthes 

 trifoliata). On one occasion he says: "the birds had to be gently driven from a 

 mass of aquatic herbage. They would silently paddle to the verge of the clear 

 space in the centre of the mere, then turn back and thread their way in and out 

 among the reeds and water plants. If too much noise was made in doing this, 

 they would rise singly and cross to a distant corner, there remaining hidden from 

 view. They were never seen by day to swim in the open space with the Duck 

 and Teal." Montagu describes it as a good diver, yet the general consensus of 

 opinion amongst naturalists is that it never dives for food, but only when 

 wounded ; when feeding in shallow water the Gadwall immerses all the fore part 

 of its body, groping at the bottom much after the manner of the Brent. 



The geographical distribution of the Gadwall is nearly the same as that of 

 the Mallard, but it is not so generally distributed over the same area. In Europe 

 the nesting range extends from Iceland to southern Spain, and from the British 

 Islands to the Oural, and across Asia, but not north of the Forest Belt. In 

 America it nests commonly as far north as latitude 50. In winter it is common 

 within and around the Mediterranean Basin ; but, according to Col. Shelley, only 

 moderately abundant in Egypt, in winter, on the large sheets of water. 



It is a common breeding Duck in Macedonia, Asia Minor, Turkey, the Crimea, 

 and southern Russia. Breeds regularly in Turkestan, and on the high dry lands 

 of the Kirghiz Steppes, and central Asia. It is a winter visitor to China and 

 Japan, and in immense numbers to northern India, frequenting the reedy jheels 

 in great flocks, and feeding greedily on both wild and cultivated rice. It passes 

 through Gilgit on migration to India the first week in October, returning in 

 March. It collects in great quantities about Kandahar in the first quarter of the 

 year. Although nesting in Iceland, it has not been recognized anywhere in Arctic 

 Norway, and is a very rare visitor to Scandinavia, although it nests in south- 

 eastern Sweden. In north-east Prussia, Mr. E. Hartert says, it is " not a rare 

 breeder on some of the lakes of the southern parts, occurs also on passage; I 

 found clutches in the second half of May, and even before that time." 



When seen swimming at some distance, the Gadwall very much resembles 

 the Common Wild Duck, but may be readily distinguished from that species, as 

 also in flight, by the white speculum. With the use of a glass the bright chestnut 

 patch on the median wing-coverts less so in the female and the beautiful 



