ANATINiE — THE DUCKS — CHAULELASMUS. 
507 
the head and neck, and in irregular transverse spots and bars on other portions. On the upper 
surface the dusky prevails, and on the lower parts the whitish predominates. Wing nearly as in 
the male, but the chestnut usually absent, the black less extended, and the gray of the coverts gen- 
erally more or less barred and tipped with white. Abdomen and lower part of the breast pure 
white ; throat finely streaked with dusky. Downy 
young : “ Covered with soft short down ; head, 
nape, back, and rump, dark dull brown, on each 
side of the rump and back of each wing-joint a 
sulphur-yellow spot, the wing- joints being marked 
with that color ; forehead, space round the eye, 
throat, and chest pale sulphur-yellow ; abdomen 
white, shaded with sulphur-yellow, on the lower 
part sooty gray” (Sharpe & Dresser). 
Male, wing, 10.25-11.00 inches ; culmen, 1.60- 
1.75; width of bill, .60-. 75 ; tarsus, 1.45-1.70; 
middle toe, 1.80-1.90. Female, wing, 10.00-10.10 ; 
culmen, 1.55-1.65 ; width of bill, .60-.70 ; tarsus, 
1.60 ; middle toe, 1.75-1.80. 
Although one of the above diagnoses will fit 
almost any example of this species, there is yet a 
very considerable extent of individual variation 
noticeable in a large series. Thus, No. 17040 
(Washington, D. C., Feb. 25, 1860 ; C. Drexler) has 
down over the side of the head to a line on a level with the lower eyelid, the whole upper half of 
the head being thus nearly free from specks ; while that portion behind the eye has a faint, but 
very perceptible, rose-purple reflection — this part of the head calling strongly to mind the head- 
pattern of Nettion and Mareca americana. On the other hand, an adult male from Philadelphia 
(No. 46658, J. Krider) has even the top of the head spotted. No. 9791, $ ad., Fort Steilacoom, 
W. T. (Dr. George Suckley), has the pileum almost chestnut, the brown having there such a 
deeply reddish cast ; the lower neck is nearly plain pale ochraceous, abruptly defined against the 
darkly colored jugulum. Specimens from Cape St. Lucas and Utah present no unusual features. 
All American specimens differ uniformly, from the single European pair before us, in several 
very tangible respects. The European male has the neck quite deeply ochraceous, while in the 
American ones there is seldom more than a mere tinge of this color ; the jugulum is also pervaded 
by a wash of a more pinkish tinge of the same, while there is appreciably less regularity and clear- 
ness in the markings of that region. The longer scapulars are more deeply tinged with fulvous, 
and the finely undulated portions are pervaded with a brownish wash, entirely wanting in the 
American series. The measurements of this specimen (No. 57187, Europe ; Schliiter Collection) 
are as follows : Wing, 10.80 inches; culmen, 1.65 ; width of bill, .70 ; tarsus, 1.55 ; middle toe, 
1.85. The female specimen from Europe is very similar to North American examples, but is 
rather more deeply colored, the dark centres to the feathers being nearly deep blade. The whole 
throat is immaculate white. The measurements are as follows : Wing, 9.50 inches ; culmen, 
1.50; tarsus, 1.35; middle toe, 1.60. 
The Gadwall, or Gray Duck, like the Mallard, the Pintail, the Shoveller, and one 
or two other fresh-water Ducks, has a general distribution, nearly or quite throughout 
the northern hemisphere. It is more or less common in nearly all parts of North 
America, from the Fur Region to Central America, and from Maine to the Pacific. 
Its presence in several extended districts, however, remains to be confirmed. It is 
found in all parts of Europe, from Iceland to Gibraltar, occurs throughout North 
Africa, and is distributed over the larger portion of Asia. 
Mr. Robert Kennicott, in his manuscript notes on the Anatidce of North America, 
states that this Duck, like the Aytliya americana and some other birds, though ex- 
tending west of the mountains within the United States, apparently passes in its 
the uniform brown of the pileum coming 
