SPRIGTAIL. 



'X^HIS is another cosmopolitan species, and ranges in 

 the northern hemisphere, from the Atlantic coast of 

 America across the continent and through the Old World 

 eastward to Japan. It is one of the most common 

 Ducks found in Alaska, and along the mighty river, the 

 Yukon, they nest in May. Mr. Nelson, whose oppor- 

 tunities for watching many species of birds during their 

 breeding season in the Arctic regions have been numer- 

 ous, describes the peculiar habits of the Pintail at that 

 time. The female rises in the air with the male in quick 

 pursuit, and the pair fly back and forth with incredible 

 speed, performing many quick and varied evolutions, be- 

 ing at one moment almost out of sight overhead and the 

 next just skimming above the ground. The first male 

 would soon be joined by others, all anxious to obtain the 

 fair prize, but none keeps as close to the coy female as 

 the original pursuer, and so dexterous is she in her rapid 

 movements that even he can get near her only occa- 

 sionally. When he does, however, he keeps beneath her, 

 so closely that their swiftly moving wings rattle to- 

 gether like castanets, the noise thus made being audible 

 for a long distance. This' performance is kept up for per- 

 haps half an hour, and all the other males having been 

 distanced in the race, the original pair settle in one of the 

 ponds. At this season this Duck has a habit akin to the 

 drumming of the Snipe. Having risen to a great height, 

 the wings are held stiffly and curved downward, and the 

 bird descends with the swiftness of a meteor, producing 



