UPLAND SHOOTING. 131 



Scotia, at least along its Atlantic boundaries. In Kentucky, and 

 the whole of the Western country, where it is extremely abund- 

 ant in early autumn, during winter, and up to a very advanced 

 period in spring, you meet with it wherever its usual food is to 

 be found. It follows the waters of the Mississippi to New Or- 

 leans, is seen westward in the prairies of Oppelousas, and 

 extends to the eastward as far as Massachusetts, beyond which, 

 like the Mallard, it is very rarely seen. Indeed, this species is 

 at all times rare on the seacoast of the Atlantic, and must there- 

 fore be regarded as an inland bird. 



" The Pintail, which, in the United States, is better known 

 by the name of Sprigtail, arrives on the Western waters early 

 in October, sometimes even in September ; the period of its ar- 

 rival depending on the state of the weather, or the appearance 

 of other species with which it keeps company. Their plumage 

 is in fine condition when they arrive ; their tail feathers are then 

 as long as at any other period, and the whole apparel of the 

 adult bird is as perfect as in the breeding season. 



" Whilst with us, the Pintail is found in company with the 

 Baldpate or American Widgeon, the Blue-Winged Teal, and the 

 Mallard ; more frequently on ponds than on streams ; although 

 it sometimes resorts to the latter, when their shores are over- 

 hung with beech-trees, loaded with their nutritious fruits, of 

 which this species is extremely fond, and in search of which 

 they even ramble a short distance into the woods. Were this 

 Duck to feed entirely on beech mast, I have no doubt that its 

 flesh would be excellent. It feeds on tadpoles in spring, on 

 leeches in autumn ; while, during the winter, a dead mouse, 

 should it come in its way, is swallowed with as much avidity as 

 by a Mallard. To these articles of food it adds insects of all 

 kinds ; and, in fact, is by no means an inexpert fly-catcher. 



" The Pintails are less shy in the Western country than most 

 species of their family ; and in this respect they resemble the 

 Blue-Winged Teals ; which, in fact, might be called stupid birds, 

 with as much propriety as many others. They SAvim rather 

 deeply, keep close together, and raise the hind part of the body 



