NATATORES-ANATIDAK — ANAS. 
313 
THE GREY DUCK, OR GADWALL. 
Anas strepera. 
PLATE CIS. PIG. 243. 
(CABINET OF THE LYCEUM.) 
Anas strepera , Lin. p. 200. Gadioall, Pennant, Arct. Zoology, Vol. 2, p. 575. 
A. id. Wilson, Am. Orn. Vol. 8, p. 120, pi. 61, fig. 1. Bonaparte, Ann. Lyc. N. Y. Vol. 2, p. 383. Audubon, 
B. of Am. Vol 6, p. 254, pi. 383. 
Chauliodus, Richardson, F. B. B. Vol. 2, p. 440. Chauletasmus , Gray. 
A. id. Nuttall, Man. Ornith. Vol. 2, p. 383. Giraud, Birds of Long island, p. 301. 
Characteristics. Mirror white, bordered by black and chesnut: feet orange ; webs blackish. 
Male, blackish waved with white. Female, reddish brown ; rump uni¬ 
form with the rest. Length, 20‘0. 
Description. Bill nearly as long as the head, straight, sublinear; the teeth or plates long 
and delicate. Nostrils sub-basal, moderate, oblong. Tibia bare for some distance. Tail 
short, rounded, composed of sixteen stiff acuminated feathers, of which the central pair project 
somewhat beyond the others. 
Color. Male: Head and neck greyish white, speckled with brown : bill bluish black; 
summit of the head tinged with chesnut-brown. Middle wing-coverts chesnut-brown. Lower 
part of the neck, back and breast, exterior flanks and scapulars dark brown, with numerous 
white crescents originating from the tips of the feathers. Throat and chin (in an adult in 
full plumage) of a uniform buff; greater coverts, rump, upper and under tail-coverts jet 
black ; interior scapulars and tertiaries greyish brown ; wings and tail grey-brown, the former 
rufous on the inner webs. Mirror white, bordered in front by black. Under parts minutely 
waved with grey. Female, smaller. Bill yellowish: feet pale yellowish. Head above 
greyish brown ; neck, breast, and all the upper parts light yellowdsh red spotted with dusky : 
a dull light-colored streak over the eyes. Young, uniform rusty brown above : each feather 
marked in the centre with black. 
Length, 19" 0 — 20‘0. 
This beautiful species is rather rare in this State. It was first discovered by Wilson on 
the Seneca lake, and has since been seen in other places, even along the seacoast. In New- 
Jersey, it is called the Welsh or German Duck. According to Dr. Bachman, it has been 
successfully domesticated. It breeds from Texas westw r ardly to the Columbia river; in the 
States of New-York, Massachusetts, Maine and northwardly: the eggs are greenish grey. 
Food, small fish, shells, insects and aquatic plants. Its geographical range extends from 
Mexico to 68° north latitude. Common to Europe and America. 
