30 The Natural History of British Ducks 
and the Western States the Gad wall is well represented. I have seen it in 
Wyoming. 
Except in one or two favoured localities, it may be said to be a somewhat 
rare and distinctly local visitor to the British Islands. There is evidence, how- 
ever, of its undoubted increase and extension of range over the whole of the 
south of England, whilst in Scotland it would seem to be gaining ground 
very slowly. In Norfolk the number of Gadwalls visiting certain Broads is 
now considerable; so much so that on one river, near Thetford, where, fifty 
years ago, the species was practically unknown, some hundreds are annually 
killed, and the birds themselves far exceed the Mallard in number. They are 
also common in winter at Merton and Narford, and in each of these places a 
few odd pairs annually stay and breed. From newspaper reports, and those of 
local Natural History Societies, it would seem that Gadwalls nest in Norfolk 
almost as commonly as the wild duck; but this is far from being the case. 
Only one or two pairs nest even at Narford and Merton, where in winter 
they are sometimes seen in hundreds ; and I quite agree with Mr. J. H. 
Gurney, who, in a letter to me, states that the increase of both this bird and 
the Garganey as resident species has been 'grossly exaggerated.' Gadwalls 
become rare towards the west of England, but they are found in small 
numbers all along the southern counties — in Essex, Kent, Sussex, and Hamp- 
shire, being particularly numerous on the Test ; also in Devonshire, where they 
are generally to be found at Slapton Leigh. It has been recorded as a rare 
visitor to most of the English counties ; but two places in Scotland — the Earn 
in Perthshire and the Island of Tiree, off the coast of Argyle — it visits 
regularly every winter. These birds are for the most part immatures, but a 
few adults occur ; and I think that the day will come when they will breed on 
Loch Leven. In the Outer Hebrides, particularly in the north and south-west, 
and Benbecula, the Gadwall is now a regular winter visitor. In Ireland it is 
considered a scarce and irregular winter visitor, but it visits the Longueville 
decoy lake every season. 
Although it will rest at sea by day, the Gadwall is even less a marine 
