THE GADWALLS. 
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wing-coverts, and by having a broad black border to the outer 
aspect of the speculum, as in the male. In the female the 
external black border to the speculum is scarcely visible, and 
there is no chestnut on the greater \ying-coverts. 
The Gadwall Drake, like the Mallard, assumes a sort of 
female plumage, after the breeding-season. The male then 
resembles the female, but is darker, as is the case with the 
other Ducks which assume the female coloration. The black 
rump, which is so characteristic of the adult Gadwall, disappears, 
as do the distinctive markings of the wing, and the male in 
the hen-like plumage can scarcely be told from the female, 
Mr. De Winton says that the summer dress is not so dis- 
tinctive as in some of the other Ducks, as the male does not 
lose his speckled breast or all the vermiculated feathers of the 
body, or the black under tail-coverts. The bill has much more 
yellow on it, and is more like that of the hen, while the feet 
are dull orange, with sooty webs. 
Nestling. — Very dark chocolate-brown, with a blackish head; 
a broad eyebrow of buff, followed by a distinct eye-line of 
brown ; on each side of the mantle some white marks, and a 
distinct white spot on each side of the rump ; under surface of 
body yellowish-white. 
■Characters. — The male Gadwall is easily recognised by the 
chestnut and black patch on the wing, and by its ^vhite speculum. 
The female has the same characters, but the amount of chest- 
nut on the wing is smaller. 
Range in Great Britain.— Chiefly known as a winter visitor, 
though it now breeds plentifully in certain parts of Norfolk, 
where it has been preserved. In the series of nests of British 
birds in the National Museum is one presented by Lord 
Walsingham, from Merton, where the species breeds regularly. 
It occurs, however, only as a winter visitor to Scotland and 
Ireland. 
Range outside the British Islands. — The Gadwall does not breed 
in the Arctic Regions, but is known to do so in Iceland, as 
well as in Southern Sweden and the Baltic provinces, and 
throughout Northern and Central Europe. Throughout the 
Mediterranean countries it also breeds, and Mr. Howard 
Saunders says that it nests in Spain near the mouth of the 
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