284 BIRDS OF EGYPT. 



the feathers; upper part of the back, outer half of the 

 scapulars, and sides of the body dusky, with narrow un- 

 dulating white bars ; remainder of the scapulars brown, with 

 pale edges to the feathers ; back dark brown ; rump and 

 tail-coverts black, with a metallic gloss ; tail stone-grey, with 

 cream-coloured edges ; wings, some of the smaller coverts stone- 

 grey, the greater part chestnut, some of the larger ones tipped 

 with black ; primaries brown, becoming very pale on the 

 inner web ; secondaries greyish brown, some with black on 

 the outer web, and many with the outer web white ; centre 

 of the chest and abdomen white ; beak black ; legs orange- 

 brown ; irides brown. 



Entire length 19 inches; culmea TS; wing, carpus to 

 tip, 11 '4; tarsus 1"3. 



Fig. Gould, B. of Eur. pi. 366. 



304. Dafila acuta (Linn.). Pintail Duck. 



The Pintail is very abundant in Lower Egypt and the 



Fayoom, but much less common on the Nile above Cairo. 



It may usually be met with in large flocks on the lakes, or 



feeding, in company with other kinds of Duck, along the 



^jUw^' banks of the canals, and more rarely in the small pools. 



Two centre tail-feathers long and pointed ; neck long. 



Male. — Head brown, a white band commencing on each 

 side of the nape and joining the white on the throat ; back 

 of the neck ashy brown, almost black towards the nape ; 

 remainder of the throat and under surface of the body white, 

 shaded with grey on the abdomen ; back and smaller sca- 

 pulars grey, owing to the feathers being evenly barred with 



