PINTAIL DUCK. 383 



mentions having once shot two while they were feeding in 

 the evening on a wet stubble field, in company with the 

 common Wild Duck. This species is one of the best of our 

 various Ducks for the table ; the flesh is excellent, and in 

 great esteem. 



The Pintail is rather a silent bird by day, but at night, or 

 when disturbed, it utters a soft quack, low in tone, but audible 

 at a considerable distance. Montagu says " that the notes 

 of the Pintail are extremely soft and inward ; the courting 

 note is always attended with a jerk of the head ; the other 

 greatly resembles that of a very young kitten. In the 

 spring the male Pintail indicates his feelings by suddenly 

 raising his body upright in the water, and bringing his bill 

 close to his breast, uttering at the same time a soft note. 

 This gesticulation is frequently followed by a singular jerk 

 of the hinder part of the body, which in turn is thrown up 

 above the water." 



Lord Stanley informed Montagu that he had a hybrid 

 brood produced two seasons following between a female 

 Pintail and a male Wigeon ; the hybrid birds laid eggs dur- 

 ing two successive seasons, but they were unproductive. In 

 December, 1831, the Hon. Twiselton Fiennes exhibited at 

 the Zoological Society a specimen of a hybrid Duck, bred 

 between a male Pintail and a Common Duck. It was one of 

 a brood of six, several of which were subsequently confined 

 with the male Pintail from which they sprung, and produced 

 young. A specimen of a female of this second brood was 

 also exhibited, and the three part-bred Pintails having bred 

 again with the true Pintail, the ofl'spring lost all the appearance 

 of the Common Duck. Hybrids between the Mallard and 

 the Pintail are not uncommon, and the plumage of the male 

 is very beautiful. In former Editions it was stated that 

 Pintails did not breed readily in confinement, and that 

 neither the Zoological Society nor the Ornithological Society 

 had succeeded with them, although both Societies had several 

 pairs on waters and islands apparently well adapted to their 

 habits ; but Mr. P. L. Sclater asserts that the Pintail does 

 •well in captivity, breeding freely in the Zoological Gardens ; 



