Taxidermy case of hybrid male between Mallard and Gadwall by Edward Hart.
Taxidermy case of hybrid male between Mallard and Gadwall. According to Edward Hart, writing on 8 April 1927, 'Hybrid between Mallard and Gadwall; (No.1): hybrid male, November 30th 1885. Shot by T. M. Pike in Holland. The Rev. H. A. Macpherson was staying here on the morning of my receiving this bird (in the flesh) from my friend Mr T. M. Pike. On examing it then we came to the conclusion it must be between the Wild Duck and Teal, and recorded it as such. Afterwards, however, I altered my opinion, as I found so many differences. The bill both in shape and colouring and especially the markings on the chestnut band of breast are crescented with lighter inner margins, which in the Teal hybrid are replaced by round spots. The speculum also differs, and the colours of the legs are orange brown. This is confirmed by the well known French Ornithologist M. Suchetet of Lille, who gives a coloured plate of this bird in his work on Hybrids published in 1894. Mounted by me'
