GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 369 



Desert, and the Nile valley to Nubia. In Asia it is known to pass 

 Mongolia on migration, and to winter throughout India, which 

 appears to be its grand head-quarters in Asia during the cold 

 season, although it then visits Northern Burma, China, and Japan, 

 but in smaller numbers. In the Nearctic region it breeds in the 

 Northern United States, and beyond as far north as about lat. 50° 

 to Vancouver Island in the west, to Winnipeg in the central por- 

 tion, and to Nova Scotia (lat. 45°) in the east. It winters in the 

 Southern United States and Mexico. 



Allied Forms. — -Although the geographical area of the 

 Gadwall appears to be discontinuous, it is not known that New 

 World examples differ in any way from those of the Old World, 

 which is a most interesting and remarkable fact. The Gadwall 

 has no very near ally, certainly none of sufficient propinquity to 

 call for notice in the present work. 



Time during which the Gadwall may be taken.— 

 August I St to March ist; otherwise by authority of owner or 

 occupier of land. 



Habits. — In spite of the fact that the Gadwall nowhere breeds 

 in the Arctic regions proper, it is a migratory bird. In Europe its 

 periods of passage are about the same as in India. It, arrives at 

 its breeding grounds early in April, and departs in September and 

 October for its winter quarters. Its migrations are undertaken at 

 night, and during flight the birds keep calling to each other, pro- 

 bably to keep their ranks together. The Gadwall is not a coast 

 or salt-water Duck, but prefers inland fresh waters. When once 

 these are assured locality and extent seem of only minor import- 

 ance, for mighty rivers are frequented just the same as small 

 brooks, huge lakes equally as small pools and ponds, whilst 

 tangled swamps with little open water in them are resorted to. 

 As a rule the larger and more open the sheet of water the bigger 

 the flock of birds, only small parties frequenting the smaller lakes 

 and streams. For the most part the Gadwall is a night feeder, 

 dozing during the day and retiring inland to feed at dusk. If 

 much harassed the flocks seldom rest close inshore, but take up 

 their position in the centre of the lake well out of harm's way ; 

 but sometimes the birds are fond of skulking close amongst the 

 dense vegetation. Occasionally the Gadwall may be seen feeding 



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