BRITISH BIRDS. 147 



margins, producing a mottled appearance ; central tail- 

 feathers not curled up as in male ; speculum of wing 

 dark metallic green. Length 20*50. 



Breeds more or less commonly throughout the British 

 Isles ; very abundant during winter. Nest : on ground 

 near water ; in hedge-bottoms or concealed in rank grass, 

 rushes, brambles, or growing corn. Eggs : 8 to 10 ; 

 buffish white, tinged with green ; 2*25 by 1*65. Feeds 

 at night ; food comprising mollusca, aquatic insects, etc., 

 as well as vegetable matter. 



GENUS CXIX. CHAULELASMUS, Gray (1845}. 

 Chiefly characterized by the laterally projecting laminae 

 of the upper mandible of bill. 



220. Chaulelasmus streperus (Linn.). GADWALL. 



Hab. Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. 



Male : head and neck pale brown with darker spots ; 

 feathers of back and lesser wing-coverts dark in centre 

 with pale grey margins ; median coverts rufous, greater 

 blackish ; speculum white j primaries and tail dark 

 brown ; rump and both upper and lower tail-coverts 

 bluish-black ; feathers of upper breast and flanks dusky 

 grey with paler margins ; lower breast and belly white ; 

 bill bluish-slate ; iris hazel ; feet orange. Length about 

 20*00. Female : feathers of upper parts and breast 

 margined with pale brown instead of grey ; speculum 

 white. 



Breeds rather commonly in Norfolk, but in the rest of 

 British Isles is only known as a scarce winter visitor. 



GENUS CXX. QUERQUEDULA, Stephens (1824). 

 Bill nearly as long as head, depressed and not broad ; 

 the laminae visible but not projecting. 



L 2 



