BRITAIN'S BIRDS AND THEIR NESTS. 139 



built among coarse herbage, usually in swampy ground, 

 is lighter than that of the Teal, and has white tips. 



THE PINTAIL 



(Dafila acuta). 



The Pintail is built on slender lines for a Duck. The 

 names ' Pintail ' and ' Sea Pheasant "* refer to the elongated 

 tail-feathers of the adult drake. The species is chiefly a 

 winter visitor to our area, but has for some years been 

 known to nest in small numbers on the strictly preserved 

 waters of Loch Leven, in Scotland. There are a few 

 other Scottish records, and doubtful ones from Ireland. 

 The seven to ten eggs are usually of a greenish colour, 

 and are laid earlier than are those of most Ducks. The 

 down -lined nest is placed among coarse herbage not far 

 from water. 



THE WIQEON 



(Mareca penelope). 



The Wigeon is the last of our native surface-feeding 

 Ducks. For the most part, it is an abundant winter 

 visitor to our inland and tidal waters, from October to 

 March or April. The drake is a handsome and easily 

 recognisable bird, with conspicuous buflish-white forehead 

 and crown, the rest of the head and neck being chestnut ; 

 the back is of a finely vermiculated gray, and the white 

 shoulder is followed by a black bar and a green wing- 

 patch. The species is a well-known ' sporting ' bird. As 

 a British-breeding bird, the Wigeon is now on the 

 increase. It has been long established on the northern 

 Scottish mainland, but has lately begun to nest in some 



