THE GAD WALLS. 275 



wing-coverts, and by having a broad black border to the outer 

 aspect of the speculum, as in the male. In the female the 

 external black border to the speculum is scarcely visible, and 

 there is no chestnut on the greater wing-coverts. 



The Gadwall Drake, like the Mallard, assumes a sort of 

 female plumage, after the breeding-season. The male then 

 resembles the female, but is darker, as is the case with the 

 other Ducks which assume the female coloration. The black 

 rump, which is so characteristic of the adult Gadwall, disappears, 

 as do the distinctive markings of the wing, and the male in 

 the hen-like plumage can scarcely be told from the female, 

 Mr. De Winton says that the summer dress is not so dis- 

 tinctive as in some of the other Ducks, as the male does not 

 lose his speckled breast or all the vermiculated feathers of the 

 body, or the black under tail-coverts. The bill has much more 

 yellow on it, and is more like that of the hen, while the feet 

 are dull orange, with sooty webs. 



Nestling. Very dark chocolate-brown, with a blackish head ; 

 a broad eyebrow of buff, followed by a distinct eye-line of 

 brown ; on each side of the mantle some white marks, and a 

 distinct white spot on each side of the rump ; under surface of 

 body yellowish-white. 



Characters. The male Gadwall is easily recognised by the 

 chestnut and black patch on the wing, and by its white speculum. 

 The female has the same characters, but the amount of chest- 

 nut on the wing is smaller. 



Range in Great Britain. Chiefly known as a winter visitor, 

 though it now breeds plentifully in certain parts of Norfolk, 

 where it has been preserved. In the series of nests of British 

 birds in the National Museum is one presented by Lord 

 Walsingham, from Merton, where the species breeds regularly. 

 It occurs, however, only as a winter visitor to Scotland and 

 Ireland. 



Eange outside the British Islands. The Gadwall does not breed 

 in the Arctic Regions, but is known to do so in Iceland, as 

 well as in Southern Sweden and the Baltic provinces, and 

 throughout Northern and Central Europe. Throughout the 

 Mediterranean countries it also breeds, and Mr. Howard 

 Saunders says that it nests in Spain near the mouth of the 



T 2 



