DAFILA. 



689 



margin of both mandibles to near the tip, and a spot of the same colour just 

 above the nail ; the irides are brown. 



"The dimensions of this species are as follows: 



"Male. Length 18-3 to 19; expanse 28*5 to 29*5 ; tail from vent 3*0 to 4; 

 wing 8-1 to 8-5 ; wings when closed reach to within 07 to 1*5 of end of tail ; 

 bill at front, including nail, 177 to 1-85 ; tarsus 1*44 to 1-52 ; weight i'3 oz. 

 to 1-5 oz. 



"Female. Length, 16-9 to 17-5 ; expanse 27 to 28 ; tail from vent 2-8 to 

 37; wing 7*9 to 8*1 ; wings when closed reach to within from 0*5 to I of end 

 of tail ; bill at front o'6 to 075 ; tarsus 1*4 to 1*5 ; weight i Ib. to I Ib. 3 oz." 



'Sir. F. i. p. 562.) 



Hab. Sind, Beloochistan, Persia, S. Afghanistan, Lower Punjab, N.-W. 

 Provinces, Oudh and Bengal ; extremely abundant after October; much sought 

 for the table. Feeds chiefly on leaves, roots, fresh water molluscs, &c. 



Gen. Dafila (Leach-), Gray, Gen. Birds, iii. p. 615. 



Tail with the central feathers narrow and much lengthened beyond the 

 rest ; neck long ; bill elevated at the base, of nearly uniform width ; 1st pri- 

 lary of wing longest. 



Dalila acuta. The Pintail. 



1393. Dafila acuta (Linn.), Jerd., B. Ind. iii. p. 803; Dresser, B. 

 Eur. vi. p. 531, pi. ; Hume, Sir. F. iii. p. 193; Scully, Sir. F. iv.p. 200; id., 

 Str. F. viii. p. 363; Hume and Marsh,, Game Birds iii. p. 189, pi. ; Gates, 

 Str. F. x. p. 245 ; Murray, Vert. Zool., Sind, p. 297 ; Oates, B. Br. Burm. 

 li. p. 279; Linn., Syst. Nat, i. p. 202; Blyth, B. Burm. p. 166; Legge, B. 

 Ceylon, p. 1076. The PINTAIL. 

 VOL. II.-89 



