SPRIG TAIL. 125 



soon as the weather moderates. By the time they have 

 reached these winter quarters the birds have become 

 " educated," have learned the danger of man's presence, 

 and are generally very shy and suspicious. When coming 

 to decoys, after many hesitating advances, they are apt to 

 rise to a considerable height in the air, and look down 

 into the blind, and not liking the disclosures there made, 

 keep on their course, usually out of gunshot. If they have 

 seen nothing to cause alarm and they come up to the 

 decoys, on the appearance of the sportsman as he rises 

 from his crouching position, the birds seem to throw 

 themselves directly upward at a great speed, with the 

 result of causing any but an experienced gunner to shoot 

 beneath them. 



Their flight is very rapid, performed by quick beats 

 of the wings, and the long necks of these Ducks make 

 them easily recognizable when in the air. On the 

 water the Sprig swims gracefully, arching its neck 

 and holding back its head like a miniature Swan, 

 and presents a pretty picture as the sun glances on 

 the variegated coloring of the head and neck of the male. 

 As a diver the Sprigtail is only a partial success. It 

 can go under water, though it cannot stay long, but 

 skulks with great skill, stretching out the neck to the 

 fullest extent and laying it and the head flat upon the 

 surface. At a little distance, unless there is a complete 

 calm, it is very difficult to be seen when it assumes such 

 a position. Beside the names already applied to it in this 

 article, this Duck is known in various parts of our coun- 

 try as Spiketail, Spindletail, Spreettail, Pigeontail, Pian 

 Queue in Louisiana, Water Pheasant, and Smee. Un- 

 doubtedly it has other local names besides these. 



