BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 133 



52 [143] Dafila acuta (Linn.). 

 Pintail; "Sprigtail"; "Gray Duck." 



Uncommon transient visitor, especially in the spring ; March 8 to March 

 14; September 11 to November 25. 



My only spring dates are of about a dozen of these birds shot at Eagle 

 Hill, by Mr. T. C. Wilson, between March 8th and 14th, 1901 ; one of these is 

 in my collection. The earliest fall date, September 11th, is of a specimen shot 

 by Mr. Charles Canterbury at Ipswich, in 1893, and now in the Museum of 

 Comparative Zoology, at Cambridge. Dr. Phillips' records for this species at 

 Wenham Lake are as follows: 1900, one shot; 1901, nine shot; 1902, six 

 shot; 1903, three shot; 1904, one shot. I have seen the bird only once in 

 Essex County, namely, in November, 1900. 



Although Pintails are sometimes locally known as " Gray Ducks," the 

 latter term is also applied to the immature plumage of Wood Ducks or to any 

 obscurely marked Duck. In the books, Gray Duck means Gadwall. 



The long and slender swan-like neck and the long tail feathers in the male 

 as well as the white breast and head markings distinguish this bird. The 

 female, and the young also, have the characteristic narrow neck, but great care 

 must be used to distinguish them, when at a distance, from young or female 

 Mallards, Gadwalls, or even Baldpates. 



53 [144] Aix sponsa (Linn.). 

 Wood Duck ; "Summer Duck." 



Uncommon summer resident, common transient visitor ; April 3 to Novem- 

 ber 12 (December). 



Eggs: May. 



The December date is from a specimen in the High School collection at 

 Brookline, labeled Swampscott, December, 1881. 



Formerly more common, this bird is decreasing as a summer resident. 

 During the late spring and early summer a pair or two can often be put up in 

 the fresh marshes about the Ipswich River and in Wenham Swamp. They are 

 said also to breed in Boxford. By the last of August, they are sometimes found 



