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GADWALL DUCK. 
Anas strepera, Linn . 
PLATE CCCLXXXYIII.— Male and Female. 
I have met with this species along the whole of our Atlantic coast, from 
Eastport in Maine to Texas. It is, however, more abundant in the interior 
than in most of our maritime districts, and is particularly so on the tribu- 
taries of the Ohio, Missouri, and Mississippi. In the early part of autumn 
and late in spring many are found on the margins of our great lakes. Yet 
the Gadwall has been represented as not plentiful in the United States, 
probably on account of its being generally dispersed, and not congregated 
in particular districts. 
The Creoles of Louisiana name it “ Yiolon,” on account of the whistling 
sound of its wings. It arrives in the neighbourhood of New Orleans and 
the mouths of the Mississippi along with the Widgeon, and is fond of the 
company of the Red-head, to which it is about equal as an article of food. 
The Gadwalls are usually seen in small flocks, and during winter resort to 
the larger lakes and the pools in the interior of the great marshes, adjoining 
the waters of the Gulf. In that part of the country they feed on small fish, 
insects, and aquatic grasses. Fewer of them are found in Massachusetts and 
the State of New York than elsewhere, and this probably on account of 
these districts being more elevated and less marshy than those farther south. 
My friend Dr. Bachman informs me that they are rather plentiful in South 
Carolina, where they are considered good eating, and where they arrive in 
the beginning of October, but are more frequently met with at that seasorn 
and in early spring, than during winter, when a single individual may 
sometimes be seen in a flock of other Ducks. • 
While we were in Texas, in the latter part of April and the beginning of 
May, we found the Gadwall quite abundant on all the inland ponds and 
streams, as well as on the brackish pools and inlets of the islands and shores 
of Galveston Bay. Many of them had paired and separated from the other 
ducks ; and I was assured that this species breeds there, as does the Dusky 
Duck, the Mallard, the Blue-winged Teal, the Widgeon, and the Shoveller 
the young of all these species being plentiful in the end of June and begin- 
ning of July. I was satisfied as to the truth of the repeated assurances I had 
