AMERICAN PINTAIL 193 



are truly remarkable. As an example of parental devotion, Bent (1923) 



relates that once as he waded a marsh in search 

 of nests, a female Pintail flew towards him and 

 dropping into the water near-by began splash- 

 ing about in a state of great excitement. For 

 an hour or more the bird watched and followed 

 him closely, flying about his head and splash- 

 ing down into the water near him in a most 

 reckless manner; she swam in small circles, 

 quacking excitedly and acting as if wounded, 

 often close enough for him to have reached 

 her with a stick. The bird was trying to 

 distract his attention from her nest, which 

 was near, and her attempts to do so were with 

 total disregard for her own safety. He states 

 that he has had several similar experiences with this species, and that 

 while most ducks and many kinds of birds adopt these "broken wing" 

 tactics, seemingly the female Pintail persists longer and is more fearless 

 in her stratagems to protect her nest and young ones than most other 

 species. 



The same writer says: "The courtship display of the shy Pintail is 

 not often seen, for even on their remote northern breeding grounds 

 the males are even alert and are not easily approached. The per- 

 formance resembles that of the teals, where several drakes may be 

 seen crowding their attention on a single duck, each standing erect on 

 the water, proudly displaying his snowy breast, with his long neck 

 doubled in graceful curves until his bill rests upon his swelling chest 

 and with his long tail pointed upwards; thus he displays his charms and 

 in soft, mewing notes he woos his apparentlv indifferent ladv love until 

 she expresses her approval with an occasional low quack." Nelson 

 (1887) says: "Once . . . while sitting overlooking a series of small 

 ponds, a pair of Pintails arose and started off, the male in full chase 

 after the female. Back and forth they passed at a marvelously swift rate 

 of speed, with frequent quick turns and evolutions. At one moment 

 they were almost out of view high overhead and the next saw them 

 skimming along the ground in an involved course very difficult to 

 follow with the eye. Ere long a second male joined in the chase, then a 

 third, and so on until six males vied with each other in the pursuit. 

 The original pursuer appeared to be the only one capable of keeping 

 close to the coy female, and owing to her dextrous turns and curves he 

 was able to draw near only at intervals. Whenever he did succeed he 

 always passed under the female, and kept so close to her that their wings 

 clattered together with a noise like a watchman's rattle, and audible a 

 long distance. This chase lasted half an hour, and after five of the pursuers 

 had dropped off one by one the pair remaining (and I think the male 

 was the same that originated the pursuit) settled in one of the ponds." 

 Conover (1926), who observed these birds on their breeding grounds in 

 Alaska, says: "Pintails seemed to do a great deal of their courting on 

 the wing, and it was a common sight to see one or two drakes chasing 



