328 NATATORES. 



towards the tip, which is rounded, and has the nail small 

 and turned inward. The margins are closely pectinated with 

 their laminae, which fit into each other, so as to retain very 

 small substances, while they allow the water to escape. It 

 is, indeed, one of the most perfect dabbling bills in the whole 

 family. 



This bird is smaller than the sheldrake, or even than the 

 common wild duck. It is about twenty-one inches in length, 

 and weighs the same number of ounces. The feet are reddish 

 orange ; the irides bright yellow ; the head and upper part of 

 the neck green, with blue and purple reflections ; the lower 

 part of the neck, the breast, and scapulars, white ; the back 

 brown ; the greater coverts brown, tipped with white ; the 

 lesser coverts blue ; the primaries brown ; the secondaries 

 glossy green on their outer webs, forming a wing spot ; the 

 belly chestnut brown ; the vent black, and the tail dusky, 

 margined and tipped with white. The birds are, however, 

 subject to considerable variations in their plumage, both in 

 the individual and with the season ; and in the breeding 

 season they are shy and retired, hiding themselves in the tall 

 herbage, in which the nest is concealed. The nest is formed 

 of rushes, or other aquatic plants, and the eggs are from ten 

 to twelve, of a rusty brown colour. The young have the bill, 

 at first, very large in proportion to the size of the body. As 

 the birds live in the fresh water rather than in the sea, and 

 feed upon substances analogous to those on which the Grallae of 

 the marshes feed, their flesh is free from fishy flavour, sweet, 

 juicy, and much relished. 



THE GAD WALL (Cliauliodus strepera) 



The gadwalls spend the summer and breed in the extensive 

 marshes of both continents ; but on the approach of winter 

 they migrate towards the south, and appear as winter 

 visitants in Britain, though not in great numbers, or in situ- 



