ANATID^E. 481 



aquatic insects, small fry, spawn of fish and frogs, 

 also the shoots of water-plants, blades of grass and 

 seeds of various kinds.* Like other Ducks, too, it is 

 tolerably easy to keep in confinement, and has been 

 known to breed in this state in the Zoological 

 Gardens. 



In a wild state the nest is said to be composed of 

 dry grass and down. 



In plumage the Gadwall is on the whole rather a 

 dull-looking bird, in comparison with many of our 

 other Ducks. " The adult male has the bill lead- 

 colour ; irides hazel ; the head and upper part of the 

 neck light brown, speckled with darker brown ; the 

 back grey, produced by an alternation of darker and 

 lighter-coloured grey lines ; the point of the wing 

 and the small coverts chesnut, varied with orange- 

 brown ; the greater coverts almost black ; primaries 

 nearly black ; the secondaries similar, but the outer 

 webs forming the speculum white ; tertials pointed, 

 and two shades of brownish grey, the darker colour 

 occupying the centre of each feather, the lighter 

 colour forming the margin ; rump and upper tail- 

 coverts bluish black ; tail-feathers dark brown, with 

 lighter-coloured edges ; the lower part of the neck in 

 front and on the sides dark grey, each feather ending 

 in a half-circle of lighter grey; breast and belly 

 white ; sides, flanks and vent covered with two shades 



* Meyer's ' British Birds,' vol. vi., p. 85. 



2 T 



