THE PIN-TAILS. 287 



ranging in winter as far south as Hoiiduras and Cuba {Ridg- 



way). 



Habits. — Similar to those of N. crecca. 



Eggs. — Pale dull buff. Axis, 1-75 inch; diam., 1-28 [Ridg 

 way. 



THE riN-TAILS. GENUS DAFILA. 



Dafila^ Steph, Gen. Zool. xiii. part 2, p. 126 (1824). 

 Type, D. acuta (L.). 



The Pin-tailed Ducks, though in general structure much 

 resembling the members of the preceding genera, have a dis- 

 tinctive character in their long tail, the central feathers of 

 which are elongated beyond the rest and pointed. The cul- 

 men also is nearly straight. 



With the exception of Australia and New Zealand, the range 

 of the genus Dafila may be said to be almost cosmopolitan. 

 Only three species are recognised by Count Salvador!, for the 

 Dafila modesta of Canon Tristram, from the Fanning Islands, 

 will, in all probability, prove to be D. acuta, which has already 

 been procured in Borneo on its southern migration. D. eatoni 

 inhabits Kerguelen Island, and the Crozettes, and D. spini- 

 cauda is peculiar to South America. 



I. THE PIN-TAIL. DAFILA ACUTA. 



Afias acuta, Linn. S. N. i. p. 202 (1766) ; Seebohm, Br. B. iii. 

 p. 534 (1885). 



Querquedula acuta, Macg. Br. B. v. p. 65 (1852). 



Dafila acuta, Dresser, B. Eur. vi. p. 531, pis. 430, 431 

 (1873); B. O. U. List Br. B. p. 124 (1883); Saunders, 

 ed.Yarr. Br. B. iv. p. 380 (1885); id. Man. Br. B. p. 417 

 (1889); Lilford, Col. Fig. Br. B. part xiii. (1890) ; Salvad. 

 Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xxvii. p. 273 (1895). 



Adult Male. — General colour above ashy-grey, finely vermicu- 

 lated with wavy lines of blackish; the long scapular plumes 

 and inner secondaries bordered with white, and longitudinally 

 centred with black, with a slight inclination to form a sickle- 

 shaped curve ; the upper scapulars black for the greater part 



