PINTAIL. 137 



that vicinity before passing farther north or separating 

 to breed. At this time the birds were fat, and their 

 flesh dehcioiis, much superior to that of any other 

 duck, except the widgeon. At the Yukon the pintails 

 are the latest in nesting of any of the fresh-water ducks, 

 and generally hatch a week or two after the mallard. 

 He found them breeding in the same grounds and at 

 about the same time, with Fulix aMnis, though they do 

 not associate with that species. He always found their 

 nests in low but dry ground, under the shelter of trees 

 or bushes, though never among thick, large trees, and 

 not more than two or three rods from water. They 

 never build on hummocks in the water, nor on high 

 land, but always just upon the edge of a marsh or lake. 

 The nest is usually placed at the foot of a willow, 

 among grass rather than leaves or moss, and is ex- 

 tremely simple, being composed of merely a few bits of 

 broken dry grass and sticks, but well lined with down. 

 The eggs are from seven to nine in number, and rather 

 small in size." 



Mr. E. W. Nelson, whose studies of northern birds 

 are so interesting, has given a graphic account of the 

 breeding habits of the pintail, and, among other things, 

 calls attention to an act by this duck curiously similar 

 to the well-known drumming of the snipe. The bird 

 falls from a great height, with wings held stiff and 

 curved, and producing a sound which at first is low, but 

 gradually grows louder, until, as the bird reaches the 

 ground in its diagonal fall, the sound becomes very 

 loud. A man who has had a bunch of canvas-backs or 



