PINTAIL TEAL, 71 



reous, black near the shafts ; the coverts of the wings plain 

 dark cinereous, the largest series tipped with bay ; the tail 

 consists of sixteen dusky feathers dashed with cinereous, 

 gradually becoming darker towards the middle feathers, 

 which rather exceed the next in length, making the tail 

 regularly cuneiform ; vent and under tail-coverts rufous 

 white, with distant black spots. 



*' This double moulting in so short a time, peculiar to 

 some species of birds, is a most curious and extraordinary 

 circumstance, that seems to bid defiance to all human 

 reasoning." 



