188 



ANATID/E, 



margin of both mandibles to near the tip, and a spot of the same colour just 

 above the nail ; the irides are bro\yn. 



"The dimensions of this species are as follows :— 



''Male. — Length 18-3 to 19; expanse 28-5 to 29*5; tail from vent 3-6 to 4 ; 

 wing 8-1 to 8'5 ; wings when closed reach to within 07 to 1-5 of end of tail ; 

 bill at front, including nail, 177 to 1*85; tarsus 1*44 to 1-52; weight 1*3 oz. 

 to 1-5 oz. 



'■'Female. — Lengtli, i6'9 to 17-5 ; expanse 27 to 28 ; tail from vent 2-8 to 

 37 ; wing 7*9 to 8-i ; wings when closed reach to within from 0*5 to i of end 

 of tail ; bill at front o-6 to o 75 ; tarsus 1*4 to I'S; weight i lb. to i lb. 3 oz." 

 —(^Str. F. i. p. 562.) 



Hah. — Sind, Beloochistan, Persia, S. Afghanistan, Lower Punjab, N.-W. 

 Provinces, Oudh and Bengal ; extremely abundant after October; much sought 

 for the table. Feeds chiefly on leaves, roots, fresh water molluscs, &c. 



Gen. Dafila {Leach), Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. 615. 



Tail with the central feathers narrow and much lengthened beyond the 

 rest ; neck long ; bill elevated at the base, of nearly uniform width; ist pri- 

 mary of wing longest. 



=7^fT 





Dalila acuta. The Pintail, 



229. Dafila acuta {Lhin.), Jerd., B. Lid. iii. p. 803; Draser, B. 

 Eur. vi. p. S3 1, pi.; ILume, Str. F. iii. p. 193; Scully, S/r.F. iv. p. 200; id., 

 Sir. F. viii. p. 363; LLume and Marsh., Game Birds iii. p. 189, pi, ; Gales, 

 Str. F. X. p. 245 ; Murray, Vert. ZooL, Sind, p, 297 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. 

 ii. p. 279; Linn., Syst. Nal. i. p. 202; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 166; Legge, B. 

 Ceylon, p. 1076; Murray, Avif. Brit. Lnd. ii. p. 689, No. 1393.— The 

 Pintail. 



