AMERICAN WID&EON. 525 



Chaulblasmus stebpekus (L.) Gray. 



Grad-vsrall ; Gi-ray XJuck. 



Anas strepera, Kjrtland, Ohio Geolog. Snrv., 1838, 166, 186. 



ChauUlaamua atreperm, Wheaton, OMo Agrio. Rep. for 1860, 370, 378 ; Reprint, 1861, 13, 

 20; Food of Birds, etc., Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1874, 574; Reprint, 1875, 14.— Lang- 

 don, Cat. Birds of Cin., 1877, 17 ; Revised List, Jonrn. Cin. Soo. Nat. Hist., i, 1679, 

 189 ; Reprint, 23. 



Gadwall, Kirtland, Fam. Visitor, i, 1850, 72. 



Anas strepera, Linn.«;us, Syst. Nat., i, 1766, 200, 

 Chaulelasmus streperus, Gray, 1838. 



Male with most of the plumage barred or half-ringed with black and white or whitish ; 

 middle coverts chestnut, greater coverts Maclc, speculum white ; female known by these 

 wing marks. Length, 19-23 ; wing, 10-11. 



Habitat, North America generally. Earope. Asia. Africa. Generally distributed 

 in this country. 



Not very common spring and fall migrant, in part summer resident. 



The Gadwall is one of the least common of all the ducks which may 

 be looked for throughout the State during their migrations. I have 

 never met with it in summer. Mr. Dury informs me that it breeds at 

 the reservoir in Mercer county. 



The eggs are creamy-buff and measure about 2.00 by 1.50. 



Gknus MARECA Stephens. 



Bill shorter than head or foot, equal to tarsus or inner toe. Tail not more than half 

 the wing. 



Makbca AMERICANA (Gm.) Steph. 



A-merican Widgeon ; Saldpate. 

 Anas americana, Kirtland, Prelim. Rep. Ohio Geolog. Snrv., 1838, 67 ; OMo Geolog. 



Surv., 1838, 165. 

 Mareca americana, Whkaton, Ohio Agrio. Rep. for 1860, 370, ; Reprint, 1861, 12 ; Food 



of Birds, etc., Ohio Agric. Rep. for 1874, 574 ; Reprint, 1875, 14. — Langdon, Cat. 



Birds of Cin., 1877, 15; Revised List, Journ. Cin. Soc. Nat. Hist., i, 1879, 185; 



Reprint, 19. 



Anas americana, Gmelin, Syst. Nat., i, 1788, 659. 



Mareca americana, Stephens, Shaw's Gen. Zool , xii, 1824, 185. 



Bill and feet grayish-blue, top of head white or nearly so, plain or speckled, its sides 

 and the neck, more or less speckled; a broad green pitch on sides of head ; fjre breast 

 light-brownish ; belly pure white ; crissnm abruptly black, middle and greater coverts 

 white, the latter black-tipped; speculum green, black bordered; length, 20-22; wing, 

 11 ; tail, 5 ; tarsus, 2 ; bill, I-J-IJ : female known by the wing markings. 



Habitat, North America. South to Guatemala. Breeds in various parts of the United 

 States. Cuba. Accidental in Europe. 



Abundant spring and fall migrant, usually in considerable flocks in 



