NESTING OF THE PINTAIL IX THE FORTH " AREA 163 



and a beautiful drake flying backwards and forwards in a 

 manner which strongly suggested his having a mate on a 

 nest not far off we had to leave, however, without settling 

 this point. On the iSth we returned, and devoted our 

 attention to other portions of the loch. On this occasion we 

 observed altogether seven .Pintails four males and three 

 females, two of the latter being flushed from their nests 

 containing eight and five eggs respectively. Our delight 

 knew, of course, no bounds, and we came home well pleased 

 with the success of our expedition. 



But my observations did not stop here, investigations in 

 other branches of natural history necessitating further visits 

 to the loch and affording at same time opportunity for ex- 

 tending my acquaintance with the Pintails. On 25th May 

 a single drake was all that was noticed, but on 8th June I 

 saw no fewer than three males and six females, all of them, 

 except two of the ducks which were on their nests, being in 

 view at one time a sight to gladden the heart of any student 

 of British ornithology. The two nests referred to were 

 within a hundred yards of each other, and each contained six 

 deeply incubated eggs there were signs, however, that the 

 number had once been greater. An empty nest with portions 

 of hatched eggs beside it was also found. Altogether it was 

 an eventful day, the memory of which I shall long cherish. 



Many nests of other species of duck were found, and all 

 suspicious ones carefully identified. As a matter of fact, 

 however, the four Pintails' nests were never in doubt from 

 the moment the ducks rose from them. When put off the 

 nests, which were placed in tufts of grass in dry and open 

 situations at some distance from the water, the birds invari- 

 ably alighted within forty or fifty yards, so that even without 

 using my binoculars I could recognise them perfectly well. 

 But, for the satisfaction of those who look for more con- 

 vincing evidence of identification, I may mention that I 

 placed a couple of the eggs in an improvised incubator, and 

 at the end of a week had the pleasure of seeing two un- 

 mistakable Pintail ducklings. As regards the " down " test, 

 I must confess I am not an out and out believer in it. I 

 have Wild Duck down which it would be hard to separate 

 from that of the Pintail. 



