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GADWALL DUCK. 



4- Anas strepera, Linn. 

 PLATE CCCLXXXVIII.— Male and Female. 



I have met with this species along the whole of our Atlantic coast, from 

 Eastport in Maine to Texas. It is, however, more abundant in the interior 

 than in most of our maritime districts, and is particularly so on the tribu- 

 taries of the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi. In the early part of autumn 

 and late in spring many are found on the margins of our great lakes. Yet 

 the Gadwall has been represented as not plentiful in the United States, pro- 

 bably on account of its being generally dispersed, and not congregated in 

 particular districts. 



The Creoles of Louisiana name it "Violon," on account of the whistling 

 sound of its wings. It arrives in the neighbourhood of New Orleans and 

 the mouths of the Mississippi along with the Widgeon, and is fond of the 

 company of the Red-head, to which it is about equal as an article of food. 

 The Gadwalls are usually seen in small flocks, and during winter resort to 

 the larger lakes and the pools in the interior of the great marshes, adjoining 

 the waters of the Gulf. In that part of the country they feed on small fish, 

 insects, and aquatic grasses. Fewer of them are found in Massachusetts and 

 the State of New York than elsewhere, and this probably on account of 

 these districts being more elevated and less marshy than those farther south. 

 My friend Dr. Bachman informs me that they are rather plentiful in South 

 Carolina, where they are considered good eating, and where they arrive in 

 the beginning of October, but are more frequently met with at that season, 

 and in early spring, than during winter, when a single individual may some- 

 times be seen in a flock of other Ducks. 



While we were in Texas, in the latter part of April and the beginning of 

 May, we found the Gadwall quite abundant on all the inland ponds and 

 streams, as well as on the brackish pools and inlets of the islands and shores 

 of Galveston Bay. Many of them had paired and separated from the other 

 Ducks; and I was assured that this species breeds there, as does the Dusky 

 Duck, the Mallard, the Blue-winged Teal, the Widgeon, and the Shoveller, 

 the young of all these species being plentiful in the end of June and begin- 

 ning of July. I was satisfied as to the truth of the repeated assurances I had 



