GAD WALL DUCK. 
255 
received on this subject, by observing the manners of individuals of all 
these species before my departure from that country. After a continuance 
of rainy weather, Gadwalls are found in great numbers on the vast prairies 
of Oppelousas and Attacapas, where I have been told they continue until 
very late in spring, and some remain to breed. 
This species dives well on occasion, especially on being wounded. At the 
appearance of danger, it rises on wing — whether from the ground or from 
the water — at a single spring, in the manner of the Mallard, and, like it also, 
ascends almost perpendicularly for several yards, after which it moves off in 
a direct course with great celerity. I have never seen it dive on seeing the 
flash of the gun ; but when approached it always swims to the opposite part 
of the pond, and, when the danger increases, flies off. On being wounded, 
it sometimes by diving makes its escape among the grass, where it squats 
and remains concealed. It walks with ease, and prettily, often making 
incursions upon the land, when the ponds are not surrounded by trees, for 
the purpose of searching for food. It nibbles the tender shoots and blades 
of grasses with apparent pleasure, and will feed on beech-nuts, acorns, and 
seeds of all kinds of Gramineas. as well as on tadpoles, small fishes, and 
leeches. After rain it alights in the corn-fields, like the Mallard, and picks 
up the scattered grains of maize. The common notes or cry of the female 
have a considerable resemblance to those of the female Mallard ; but the 
cry of the male is weaker, as in that species. 
It is by no means shy in the Western Country, where I have often found 
it associating with other species, which would leave the pond before it. 
Near the sea, however, it is much more wary, and this no doubt on account 
of the greater number of persons who there follow shooting as a regular and 
profitable employment. From the following note of my friend Dr. Bach 
man, you may judge how easily this fine species might be domesticated. 
“ In the year 1812, I saw in Dutchess county, in the State of New York, 
at the house of a miller, a fine flock of Ducks, to the number of at least 
thirty, which, from their peculiar appearance, struck me as differing from 
any I had before seen among the different varieties of the tame Duck. On 
inquiry, I was informed that three years before, a pair of these Ducks had 
been captured in the mill-pond, whether in a trap, or by being wounded, I 
cannot recollect. They were kept in the poultry-yard, and, it was said, 
were easily tamed. One joint of the wing was taken off, to prevent their 
flying away. In the following spring they were suffered to go into the pond, 
and they returned daily to the house to be fed. They built their nest on 
the edge of the pond, and reared a large brood. The young were perfectly 
reconciled to domestication, and made no attempts, even at the migratory 
season, to fly away, although their wings were perfect. In the following 
