< 54 ) 



ORD. III. GEN. XI. DUCK. 



S P E. XV. G A D W A L L. 



PI. 259. 



Anas ftrepera. Lin. Syft. I. p. 20c. 

 Le Chipeau. Brif. Orn. VI. p. 339. 



This fpecies is about the fize of the widgeon. The bill is two inches long, 

 of a blackifh olive colour, flat, and broad : eyes, dark brown : head, neck, and 

 breaft pale grey brown, faintly fpotted and marked with reddifh black : the 

 whole' of the under parts, white, with faint femicircular grey marks under the 

 wing, and at the vent: back, and tail, pale brown: the fcapulars, reddifh 

 brown, thofe next the wing coverts deepeft: part of the lefs wing coverts, 

 white: greater coverts, pale brown, and fome of them blue green on the outer 

 webs : quill feathers, dufky : legs, dull orange. 



The gadwall vifits us in the autumn, and frequents the fame places as the 

 teal, hiding itfelf among ruflies, flags, and other cover in the day, and feeding 

 in the night. Like moft of this genus it migrates to the northern parts of 

 Europe in the fpring to breed. It is a juicy, flefhy bird, and well flavoured. 



