216 INDIAN DUCKS 



Geuus DAFILA. 



The general appearance of the genus Daplu is more elongated 

 than any other of our Indian ducks; in both sexes the tail is pointed, 

 and that of the male has the central rectrices considerably lengthened 

 when in good plumage. The bill is slightly wider at the end than at 

 the base. 



Of the five species of Bafila, India has but one, the very wide- 

 spread species D. acuta. The genus is almost cosmopolitan, 

 Australia alone being unrepresented by any form. 



(34) DAFILA ACUTA. 

 THE PINTAIL. 



Anas acuta, Linn. S. N. x. ed. i, p. 126 (1758) (Sweden); Lenge, B. 

 of C. p. 1096. 



Daflla acuta, .Icrdon, B. of I. iii, p. 803 ; Iliimc, S. F. i, p. 261 ; Adatii, 

 ibid, ii, p. 338; Hume, ibid, iii, p. 193; Buth'i\ ibid, iv, p. 29 ; Hume 

 ct Davis, ibid, vi, p. 489; BaU. ibid. vii. p. 232; Cripp.s, ibid, xii, 

 p. 312; Hume, ibid, vii, p. 493; id. ibid, viii, p. 115: id. Cat. no. 

 962 ; Scully, S. F. viii, p. 362 ; Hume ,( Mar.sli. Game-B. iii, p. 189 ; 

 Vulal, S. F. ix, p. 92 ; Butler, ibid. p. 438 ; Reid, ibid, x, p. 82 ; Gates, 

 ibid. p. 245 ; id. B. of B. B. ii, p. 279 ; Barnes. B. of Bom. p. 407 ; 

 Hume, S.F. xi, p. 345; Salvadori, Cat. B. 3/. xxvii, p. 270; Blanford, 

 Avifauna B. I. iv, p. 447; Oatcs. Gamc-B. ii, p. 223 ; Stuart Baler, 

 J. B. N. H. S., xii, p. 437 (1899) ; id. Indian Ducks, p. 181 (1908); 

 Wait, Spolia Zeylonica, x, pt. 39. p. 340 (1917) ; Logan-Hume, 

 J. B. N. H. S. xix, p. 750 (1909) ; Magrath, ibid, xsi, p. 658 (1912). 



Description. Adult Male. — Whole head brown, varying from a rather 

 pale dingy to a ricli dark umber, glossy on the upper parts, with purple or 

 copper sheen more especially on the sides of the sinciput and nape ; chin 

 and throat sometimes rather paler than the upper parts ; nape almost black. 



