COMMON GADWALL. 251 



wing covers have no concentric lines : the long scapulars, 

 or rather the tertials, are much developed, and hang 

 down on each side over the primary quills ; their bases 

 are white ; beyond which they become black, but edged, 

 and divided in the middle, by white lines : the rump is 

 dusky, changing to deep black on the upper and under 

 tail covers : at the base of the tail, on each side, is a 

 large triangular cream-coloured spot, bordered by velvet- 

 black : the bill and feet are dull lead- colour. 



Size, larger than the Beautiful Duck. Total length 

 16 inches; bill I^q', the breadth -i;}: wings 9^ and 

 reaching to the end of the tail ; tail, from the base 2^ ; 

 tarsus, 1-jpQ. 



The Common Gadwall. 



Chauliodus strepera, Sw. 



Above, browm, with pale undulations ; beneath, varied 

 with grey and white : speculum white, edged with 

 rufous. 



Anas strepera, Linn., Auct., Wilson, Am. Orn. pi. 71. f. 1. 

 Canard chipeau, Buffon, PI. Enl. 958. Temm. Man. ii. 837. 

 Chauliodus strepera, Sw.,Journ. Rotj. Inst. ii. 19. Selby, ii. 

 301. Gadwell, or Grey, of British Authors. 



. Although the gad wall cannot be ranked among the 

 most ornamental of our ducks, it is nevertheless an 

 agreeable acquisition to our preserves, as adding to the 

 variety and contrast of colour so desirable in collections. 

 Although a rare visiter with us, it may easily be pro- 

 cured from Holland, through the London dealers ; for 

 M.Temminck states that it is abundant in the Low Coun- 

 tries, where it breeds in the great marshes and swampy 

 meadows. In this country it seems but an occasional 

 visiter, sometimes met with in the low and swampy 

 districts of Norfolk, where, as Mr. Selby conjectures, it 

 has probably been driven by adverse winds out of its 

 usual line of flight. It is, indeed, somewhat singular 

 that it should be so scarce in Britain, seeing that it is by 



