NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS. 63 



135. Anas strepera Linn. [604.] 



Gad-wall. 



Hab. Nearly cosmopolitan. In North America breeding chiefly within the United States. 



The Gadwall, or Gray Duck, is a widely diffused species in most 

 parts of the world. In North America, during the breeding season, it 

 may be found nesting anywhere, especially south of the British Prov- 

 inces. Common in meadows, and in grain fields near marshes and 

 lakes in Minnesota, nesting in the middle of June and depositing from 

 eight to twelve eggs in a cavity of the ground. 



Mr. A. M. Shields states that this Duck is a resident in the vicinity 

 of Los Angeles, Cal., but is not met with in great numbers. He found 

 a nest containing eleven eggs on April 16, these were apparently about 

 two weeks incubated. The nest was a slight hollow, amongst a thick 

 bunch of weeds, six feet from the water's edge ; it was composed of 

 fine grass and feathers from the breast of the bird. The eggs are clay 

 color or creamy buff, elliptical in shape, and measure 2.09 by 1.57. 



136. Anas penelope Linn. [606.] 



'Widgeon, 



Hab. Northern part of the Old World. In North America breeds in the Aleution Islands. Occurs 

 occasionally in the Eastern United States. 



The European Widgeon in its size and general character, resembles 

 the American Widgeon or Baldpate. In the south of Scotland and 

 throughout England it is an abundant winter visitant ; a few remain to 

 breed on the islands of the lochs in the northern portions of Scotland. 

 It breeds in Norway and Sweden, and is the most abundant of the 

 ducks that breed in Lapland, nesting in the grassy swamps and lakes 

 midst tall rushes ; the material for the nest being reeds and grasses, 

 with a warm lining of down and feathers from the bird's body. The 

 eggs are five to eight in number, and their color is pale bufi'; their 

 average size is 2.23x1.53. 



137. Anas americana Gmel. [607.] 



Baldpate. 



Hab. North America, from the Arctic Ocean south to Guatemala and Cuba. 



The American Widgeon or Baldpate inhabits North America at 

 large, breeding anywhere in suitable localities. This is one of the 

 neatest of our ducks, and may be known by the spotted neck and 

 head. The latter is white on top ; the speculuin green and black ; the 

 lower neck, scapulars, sides and upper breast chestnut-red, tinged with 

 ashy, finely banded, all but the breast, with dark brown. The greater 

 upper wing coverts are white, tipped with black, and the under parts 

 are pure white ; the bill and feet are grayish-blue. The female is simi- 

 lar, but lacks the white crown and iridescence on the head. There is 



