122 COMMON PINTAIL. 



more unfrequent in the south. It extends to Asia : 

 specimens received from Mr. Jerdon do not differ 

 from those of Britain, and that gentleman states 

 that they are " tolerably abundant towards the more 

 northern parts of the peninsula, rare in the south, 

 found in large flocks." 



In the New World it is noticed in the works of 

 Wilson and Audubon ; by the latter it is said to be 

 rare on the coast, and is considered as an inland 

 bird. It is migratory in many parts, and does not 

 extend so far north as many other species. " In 

 Kentucky, and the whole of the western country, 

 it is extremely abundant in early autumn, during 

 winter, and up to a very advanced period in spring ; 

 it follows the waters of the Mississippi, is seen weft- 

 ward to the prairies of the Oppelousas, and eastward 

 to Massachussets, beyond which it is seldom seen ; 

 they extend to Florida." It is said to be extremely 

 fond of beech-mast, and in search after it even 

 rambles a short way into the woods. 



In the male the colours are very decidedly marked : 

 the head, throat, and fore part of the upper neck 

 are umber-brown ; on the crown, with the feathers 

 having pale tips, and on the hind head and sides of 

 the head and auriculars, having a bright purple gloss ; 

 the hind head shades gradually into deep greenish 

 black, forming a dark nuchal stripe joining with the 

 grey plumage of the upper parts ; the fore part of 

 the neck, breast, and belly, are white, that colour 

 running up in a narrow lateral stripe between the 

 umber-brown throat and dark nape ; on the belly, 



