BIRDS OF CUBA 37 



winged Teal, and they have the same habit of appearing in the lalces at 

 dusk and of taking refuge either at sea or in the mangrove swamps of the 

 coast during the day. 



39. Dafila acuta tzitzihoa (Vieillot). 

 Pintail; Pescuezilargo. 



A fair few appear every winter, not in large flocks but, as Gundlach 

 says, "in families." Their habits are similar to those of the Spoonbill 

 Duck in many respects, but they often spend more of their time in the 

 mangrove lagoons. 



40. Paecilonitta bahamensis bahamensis (Linne). 

 Bahama Pintail. 



Gundlach once killed a male in a lake near Sagua la Grande. It would 

 not be surprising if further exploration showed that the Bahama Duck 

 appeared from time to time along the little-known north coast of the 

 Oriental Province. 



41. Aix sponsa (Linne). 

 Wood Duck; Huyuyu. 



The Wood Duck is resident in Cuba, but no differences can be detected 

 in Cuban specimens; they appear absolutely typical. It is equally abundant 

 in summer and winter, and few, if any, migrants arrive. The Ducks nest 

 in broken palm trunks, either standing or fallen, and in other stumps or 

 hollow trees as well. Although in general they are partial to shady streams 

 and narrow, sluggish rivers, we shot several specimens when I was collectmg 

 at Lake Ariguanabo with Lord William Percy in 1920. The Wood Duck is 

 so esteemed for its excellent flesh that it is in real danger of extermination, 

 and today it is very far from being a common bird, less abundant even 

 than ten years ago. 



