THE GAD WALL 
Anas Strepera (LlNN^EUS) 
This aristocratic-looking duck has, like the Mallard and Pintail, a most exten- 
sive range throughout the world. It is found in summer as far north as 
Iceland, where it is said to breed sparingly in the Myvatn district. From 
Archangel, on the edge of the Arctic seas, it breeds in most of the countries 
to the south, including North and South Russia, Great Britain, Sweden and 
Denmark, whilst in Norway it only occurs on migration. In North Belgium, 
Holland, England and France the Gadwall spends the winter. Locally it is 
abundant in Spain and breeds there, but is scarce in Portugal, and again it 
occurs in large numbers in Sardinia and in the marshes of Catania and 
Lentini in Sicily. It also visits Asia Minor, and, according to Captain Shelley, 
is moderately abundant throughout Egypt and Nubia. During winter numbers 
also visit Morocco, Tunis, and Algeria, in which country I have seen it near 
Oran. 
In Asia it ranges through Southern Siberia and China, Mr. Dresser 
placing its eastern limit at Japan ; whilst in India, in the cold season, it is, 
according to Hume, the most plentiful species of duck from Assam to 
Kurrachee. During summer, in the New World, where it was first noted by 
Wilson, this duck moves as far north as Hudson Bay and the Saskatchewan, 
and extends at one season or another over the whole of Canada and North 
America down to Mexico. Wilson says it is found on the Atlantic seaboard 
from Maine to Texas, but is more abundant in the interior, * particularly so 
on the tributaries of the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi.' In the innumer- 
able hosts of duck that assemble every autumn on the lakes of Minnesota 
