GADWALL SHOVELLER. 85 



GAD WALL (Anas strepera). 



Kather a rare visitor from autumn to spring, remaining to 

 breed in Norfolk, and sparingly in other suitable parts. Like 

 the last, it is a freshwater Duck. 



Observation. Smaller, and less brilliantly coloured than 

 last. Note conspicuous white speculum. 



Plumage. Head and neck light brown, mottled with darker 

 brown. Back marked with greyish crescentic markings on a 

 darker ground. Greater wing-coverts blackish ; median wing- 

 coverts chestnut. Primaries brown ; secondaries black and 

 brown ; speculum white ; rump and upper tail-coverts bluish 

 black. Tail dark brown, edged with paler brown. Breast and 

 belly white, greyer on flanks and vent ; under tail-coverts 

 bluish black. Bill lead-colour. Legs and feet orange-yellow. 

 Length 21 in. Female : head and upper neck light brown, 

 spotted with darker brown ; upper parts brown, with pale 

 edges ; under parts white ; speculum white. Young : reddish 

 brown above, speckled with darker brown ; speculum white. 



Language. Bather like the Mallard's. 



Habits. Flight very rapid, the pointed wings being con- 

 spicuous. Like the last, it is a night-feeder, and rather a 

 skulker. 



Food. Grain, seeds, and various vegetable matters ; also 

 tadpoles, small fish, &c. 



Nest. May. One brood. 



Site. On the ground under a bush, or amongst rushes and 

 sedges near water. 



Materials. Grass, leaves, and rushes ; lined with down like 

 the Mallard's. 



S - Eight to thirteen. Creamy or huffish white. 



SHOVELLER (Spatula clypeata). 



Migrant, coming in the winter. It remains to breed regularly 

 in small numbers in the eastern counties of Scotland, on the 

 east coast of England, and more sparingly in the southern and 

 western counties ; not uncommon in Ireland where suitable. 



Haunts. Sheltered lakes, &c., not caring so much for open 

 water. 



Plumage. Head green ; neck and scapulars white. Back 

 dark brown ; greater wing-coverts white ; secondaries dark 

 brown ; speculum green ; primaries, rump, and tail-coverts 

 blackish. Breast and belly chestnut ; vent white. Bill lead- 

 colour and broadly spatulated. Legs and feet orange-red. 

 Length 20 in. Female mottled with light and dark brown. 

 After summer moult the male assumes the mottled plumage of 

 the female. Young, like female. 



