GADWALL DUCK. 355 
pair of these ducks had been captured in the mill pond, whether in a trap, 
or by being wounded, I cannot recollect. They were kept in the 
poultry-yard, and, it was said, were easily tamed. One joint of the 
wing was taken off, to prevent their flying away. In the following 
spring they were suffered to go into the pond, and they returned daily 
to the house to be fed. They built their nest on the edge of the pond, 
and reared a large brood. The young were perfectly reconciled to do- 
mestication, and made no attempts, even at the migratory season, to 
fly away, although their wings were perfect. In the following season 
they produced large broods. The family of the miller used them oc- 
casionally as food, and considered them equal in flavour to the common 
duck, and more easily raised. The old males were more beautiful than 
any that I have examined since; and as yet domestication had pro- 
duced no variety in their plumage.” 
The migration of this species extends to the Fur Countries, where 
it is said to breed. ‘The description of a male killed on the Saskatche- 
wan River, on the 22d of May 1827, is given in the Fauna Boreali- 
Americana; and I have a fine male procured by Dr 'TownsEnp on the 
Columbia River. 
Anas stREPERA, Linn. Syst. Nat vol. i. p. 200.—Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 859.— 
Ch. Bonaparte, Synopsis of Birds of United States, p. 383. 
Gapwa.1L, Anas sTREPERA, Wils. Amer. Ornith. vol. viii. p. 120, pl. 71, fig. 1.— 
Richards. and Swains. Fauna Bor.-Amer. vol. ii. p. 440. 
Gapwa tt or Grey, Nuttall, Manual, vol. i. p. 383. 
Adult Male. Plate CCCXLVIII. Fig. 1. 
Bill nearly as long as the head, deeper than broad at the base, de- 
pressed towards the end, the sides parallel, the tip rounded. Upper 
mandible with the frontal angles short and obtuse, the dorsal line at 
first sloping, then slightly concave and direct, the ridge broad and flat 
at the base, then broadly convex, the edges soft, with about fifty inter- 
nal lamelle, the unguis roundish, curved abruptly at the end. Nostrils 
sub-basal, lateral, rather small, oblong, pervious. Lower mandible flat- 
tened, its angle very long and narrow, the dorsal line very short, slightly 
convex, the edges soft, with about sixty lamelle. 
Head of moderate size, oblong, compressed. Neck rather long, 
slender. Body elongated, slightly depressed. Feet very short; tibia 
bare for about a quarter of an inch ; tarsus very short, compressed, an- 
