AXATINVE — THE DUCKS — CHArLELASMUS. 509 



Mr. T. L. Po\\'j-s foiuid the Gadwall common in the winter in the Ionian Islands. 

 Unlike most other writers, he si)eaks of it as the easiest to approach of all the Euro- 

 pean Ducks, and he also regarded it as the best for the table. It is given by Mr. 11. 

 Saunders in his List of the Birds of Southern Spain, where it was abundant through- 

 out the winter until April, and he adds that it certainly breeds at Santa Olaga. 



According to Middeudorif, it is found in the forest regions of Siberia. Its presence 

 in Iceland was first positively announced by Professor Newton, Mr. G. C. Fowler 

 having obtained a pair, with their nest and eggs, in 1862, and Mr. rroctor having 

 received skins from there. More recently Mr. C. W. Shepard has found it breeding 

 in tlie northern part of that island, on the shores of the My-vatn Lake. It was shy 

 and unsociable, and its nests were found only in quiet swampy places on the shores 

 of the lake or on islands not frequented by any other species of Duck. 



In Ireland and Great Britain this Duck is comparatively rare, occurring in winter, 

 but more frequently in spring, and then only in veiy limited numbers. In Holland, 

 on the other hand, in the months of September and October, it is the most common 

 Duck in the markets. 



Mr. Dresser did not meet with this bird in Finland, though it is supposed to occur 

 in the southeastern part of that country. It has been procured in the neighborhood of 

 Archangel, but is rare in the northern part of Russia. It is more numerous in South- 

 eastern Russia, inhabiting large marshy localities, where reeds and rushes abound, 

 and also frequenting the swamjiy banks of rivers. In the autumn, during the evening 

 and in the night, it flies about the fields. It nests in swamps or on the Ijanks of 

 lakes and rivers, and the usual number of its eggs is from eight to twelve. 



In Asia it has been obtained as far east as China and Japan. Throughout India, 

 during the whole of the cold season, according to Mr. Hume, it is the most plentiful 

 species of Duck. 



Like all the Ducks with long-pointed wings, the Gadwall has a strong and rapid 

 flight. It is generally regarded as a shy species, disliking exposure, and hiding itself 

 among thick reeds and aquatic j)lants. This, ISlr. Yarrell states, was observed to be the 

 habit of a pair in the Garden of the Zoological Society, which concealed themselves 

 in the long grass of the islands. These birds bred there in the season of 18.39, and 

 again in 1841, laying seven or eight eggs. They fed on vegetable matter, aquatic 

 insects, and small fish. 



In general habits this species very closely resembles the Mallard. It is essentially 

 a fresh-water Duck, frequenting streams, lakes, and ponds where suitable food is 

 to be found, this consisting chiefly of the leaves, buds, and roots of water-plants. 

 AVhile feeding this bird sometimes utters a low quacking. In confinement it readily 

 eats oats, bread, pieces of cabbage, turnip, potatoes, and various other vegetables. A 

 pair kept at Blount Auburn, Mass., ate greedily the roots of the common celery. 



It breeds throughout Central and Southern Europe, making a nest, like that of the 

 Mallard, close to the water's edge, on the borders of fresh-water lakes and streams. 

 The nest is a mere depression in the groiuid, lined with dry leaves or hay and down. 

 The eggs are from nine to thirteen in number, of a i)ale creamy yellow. Those in 

 Mr. Dresser's collection averaged 2.10 inches in length and 1.50 inches in breadth. 



Dr. Bachmau informed IMr. xVudubon that in the year 1812 he saw in Dutchess 

 Co., Xew York, about thirty of these Ducks in a single flock. He was informed 

 that three years previously a pair of Gadwalls had been captured alive in a mill-pond. 

 They were kept in the poultry-yard, and were easily tamed, one joint of the wing 

 having been broken, to prevent their flying away. In the following spring they were 

 suffered to go into the pond, but returned daily to the house to be fed. They built 



