32 The Natural History of British Ducks 
Shy and suspicious of danger, Gadwalls keep by day in small flocks far 
out in the centre of the lakes and lagoons, even where they are especially 
numerous, such as in the Jeels of India, or the swamps of Florida and 
Louisiana. There they rest and dream away the hours till sunset, when the 
usual commotion takes place prior to the evening flight. In the Island of 
Tiree, in Scotland, there is no sheet of water large enough for them to gain 
perfect security by day, so they move right out to sea and rest all day on 
the ocean beyond the Ballyphetrish rocks to the west; and when severe 
weather comes on they shelter on the inner side of the reef, making this their 
sanctuary throughout the winter. 
In spring, at the season of courtship, the Gadwall takes to unusual activity, 
even by day. He may be seen constantly swimming to and fro, uttering his 
unducklike croak and showing himself ofl" in a modest sort of way before the 
females. His particular form of display is, like all his ways, quiet and self- 
possessed. In company with other males he will swim slowly round the 
common object of their affection, all of them merely raising their necks and 
erecting the feathers on the crown of their heads. Occasionally this is accom- 
panied by a quick jerking of the bill and an elevation of the tail, but there 
is nothing either flashy or very noticeable about the 'show.' The young 
male Gadwall often acquires what may be said to be full plumage at ten 
months, and will pair and mate with a female if allow^ed to do so ; but he has 
not much chance of a partner if there be any old males about, for they 
generally succeed in driving the youngster off, and will themselves practise 
polygamy, and take two or even three wives rather than see them mate 
with the immatures. In this respect they are far more quarrelsome and jealous 
than either the Shoveler or the Mallard, whose views on the subject of 
matrimony are distinctly broad. 
Like the Mallard duck, the female Gadwall will make her nest (generally 
well concealed) either close to, or at a considerable distance away from, water. 
Mr. St. Quintin tells me that at Scampston, where they breed regularly, they 
are in the habit of going far into the woods to nest, and consequently few 
