GADWALL 
153 
1905), several being from 56-58 mm. in length, and going as high as 40.6 mm. in 
width. The average of twenty -one North Dakota eggs was 52.8 by 39.4 mm. (Bent, 
1901-02). These eggs are very difficult to distinguish from those of the Pintail, 
Widgeon and Shoveller. They differ from those of the American Widgeon by being 
usually whiter and less creamy, as well as slightly shorter and more rounded (Bent, 
1901-02). The nests can probably be best distinguished by the nest-down which is 
characteristic, being very dark, with small light centers and distinct gray points, 
not easily to be confused with that of any other species (H. Noble, 1908). 
The incubation period is from twenty-six to twenty -eight days (Job, 1902; Hein- 
roth, 1908), probably differing not at all from that of the Mallard. Mr. Wormald 
hatched some in twenty-three or twenty -four days, but duck eggs seem to hatch a 
little quicker under artificial conditions. Major Allan Brooks has told me that in his 
opinion the male Gadwall is somewhat more domestic in disposition than the males 
of other ducks, meaning thereby that the male stays longer with the incubating 
female. I am not certain that this is actually so, for the females, being such late 
nesters, tend to keep the males on the breeding places longer anyway. Wetmore 
(1921) at Bear River, Utah, occasionally saw a male accompanying the female and 
brood, but thinks such instances are very exceptional. Most males leave the females 
toward the middle or end of the incubation and begin to take on the eclipse plumage 
by the last of May or early June. Bent says that this plumage is not complete until 
around August 10, and he has seen it as late as September 8. 
Status. It is very difficult to compare the numbers of this species at present 
taken, because in many places it is so uncommon, and so easily confused with other 
ducks that it does not appear on the record books of shooting clubs or on market 
lists. The Gadwall differs from other northern-hemisphere ducks in being almost 
everywhere a comparatively uncommon bird. Forbush (1912) thinks that it was 
once not uncommon in New England, but I find very little evidence to support this 
opinion. No doubt there have always been times when small flights touched New 
England, as happened in October, 1904, at Merrymeeting Bay, Maine (Norton, 
1916). The only specimen I ever saw or shot at Wenham Lake, Massachusetts, in 
twenty -two years was taken on October 26 of that same year. 
The only accurate figures which I have for eastern Canada are those for the Long 
Point Club, on the northern shore of Lake Erie. No records of the Gadwall were 
kept before the year 1907. Between 1907 and 1920, out of a total of 61,063 ducks 
shot, only 60 were Gadwall (about 0.1%). At the Monroe Marsh Shooting Club 
(western end of Lake Erie) out of a total of 40,615 ducks taken in the autumn season 
between the years 1885 and 1901, only 174 Gadwall appear (0.4%). Out of 12,330 
ducks shot there in the spring over the same period only three Gadwall were taken, 
at first sight showing quite conclusively that this species takes a more western 
