508 



i-ami:llihosti{ai, swimmhhs — axseuks. 



iiii^'rivtions to the iiDi'lli wliolly to the c.stwanl uf Slave Lake, lie was iinulilc to 

 (li'tcct it ill rithcr the Viikoii or Mackcn/.ii' lv(';,'i(tii. It' (iccurrin^ at all, cvi'ii at Slave 

 Lake, lie believes he hIiouM at least liavc lieani of it I'roiii the Indians, for, nnobsor- 

 vant as they are of the snialii'r hinls, thev jiay attention to anything,' that atfonls tlieni 

 food, and the ( tpipiu'wayans of Slavt Lake shoot lar^'' numbers of Ducks. The (iad- 

 wall is not, so far as he knew, an abundant species in any part of North Americu» 

 thou.ifh it is not uncommon in October in Northern Illinois; and IJi'diardsoii mentions 

 it as eomnion in summer on the Saskatchewan. Mr. .Merrill found it breeding at 

 Antieosti, in the (iuif of St. Lawrence. Dr. Suckley observed it in summer in Min- 

 nesota, aiul ('ai)tain liendire found it lircedinj,' in EasttM'U Oregon. 



According to Mr. Dall, a single specimen was jiroeured in Uritish Columbia by Mr. 

 Elliott, and he believes that its range extends as far as the vicinity of Sitka. 



This species is inehuU'd by Mr. I{. lirowno among tlu! birds of Vancouver Island ; 

 and it was found on the I'acitic coast of Mexico by Colonel (Jrayson, who speuks of 

 it as being abundant from November until late in the spring in the neighborhood of 

 Mazatlan. According to Dr. Cooper, it is also conunon in the winter throughout 

 California, in company with other fresh-water Ducks, and sometimes in distinct 

 flocks. This Duck is said to be generally shy and (piiet, feeding mostly in the twi- 

 light, and hiding much of the time amoug the reeds and bu.slies. It has, however, 

 considerable power of voice, and in the spring is at times ([uite noisy. 



Dr. Ileermann states that it breeds in small numbers in the marshes of the Sacra- 

 mento Valley, and Dr. ( 'ooper found two nests at San Tedro on the L'Oth of July. The.se 

 were constructed chiefly of feathers, and one contained nine eggs. As a ride, however, 

 this species breeds in the more northern parts of the ITnited States, especially about 

 the lakes of Minnesota, and beyond latitude (>8° X. Mr. .1. A. Allen met with a soli- 

 tary individual on the Platte River, in South Park, Colorado; he afterward found 

 it very abundant in the valley of Salt Lake, Utah. It is also included by ^Ir. H. W. 

 Parker in his List of the Birds of Iowa, and given as occurring in the counties Polk 

 and Clinton. 



A female of this species was obtaiiKMl in liermuda in December, 1849. She was 

 kept in confinement, became ([uite tame, associated with the domesticated Ducks, r-nd 

 laid quite a number of eggs. Although a persistent sitter, none of her eggs ever 

 hatched. 



According to the experience of Mr. Poardman, this Duck is not uncommon in the 

 fall in the vicinity of Calais, Me. It is occasionally found on the ponds and streams 

 of Massachusetts, but is rare, and of irregular ajjpearance. 



Mr. Giraiid considered it as ([uite rare on Long Island, where it was very shy, 

 seldom came to the decoys, and was very difticult of approach, unless the hunters 

 advanced under cover of reeds and rushes. At Egg Harbor, New Jersey, a few of 

 this species ;ire seen every fall and spring, and are there known as the •' Welch 

 Drake " and the " German Duck."' This Duck is said to be one of the most active 

 of its tribe, flying swiftly, and being an excellent diver. It is exceedingly timid, and 

 the superior quality of its flesh would seem to show that its food must be chieflj' 

 vegetable. 



Throughout Europe and in all the countries of Northern Africa the Gadwall 

 appears to have a very general distribution, especially during its migrations. Mr. 

 Salvin mentions finding it common near Zara, in Northeastern Africa ; it was also 

 noticed in the Sahara by Mr. Tristram ; and Captain E. G. Shelley met with it in 

 Egypt and Nubia — where, however, it was not abundant. The latter saw one small 

 flock of these birds near El-Kab on February 26, and obtained a single specimen. 



