THE PINTAIL. 279 



It has a considerable range, being found according to season in most 

 parts of Asia and Europe, Northern Africa and on the eastern coast of 

 North America. It is spread over the Indian peninsula and China in 

 winter, but has not yet been found further south, except as a straggler in 

 Borneo. 



The Wigeon is a winter visitor, and is no doubt rare in Burmah com- 

 pared with other Ducks. 



The female may be recognized at a glance from the females of other 

 ducks by the colour of the bill, which is small and tipped with black. 



Genus DAFILA, Swains. 



641. DAFILA ACUTA. 



THE PINTAIL. 



Anas acuta, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 202 ; Bl. E. Burm. p. 166 ; Legge, Birds Ceylon, 

 p. 1076. Dafila acuta, Jerd. B. Ind. ii. p. 803 ; Dresser, Birds Eur. vi. p. 531, 

 pi. ; Hume, S. F. iii. p. 193 ; Scully, S. F. iv. p. 200 ; David et Oust. Ois. Chine, 

 p. 498 ; Hume $ Dav. S. F. vi. p. 489 ; Hume, S. F. viii. p. 115 j Scully, S. F. 

 viii. p. 303 ; Hume Sf Marsh. Game Birds, iii. p. 189, pi. ; Oates, S. F. x. p. 245. 



Description. Male. Forehead and crown rich umber-brown ; remainder 

 of head and upper neck plain brown ; lower neck, breast and abdomen 

 pure white, the white of the neck continued upwards in two streaks to the 

 nape ; the hind neck between these streaks blackish ; lower hind neck, 

 back, rump and upper tail-coverts marked with narrow undulating lines of 

 black and white, the upper tail-coverts with the outer webs chiefly black ; 

 tail ashy brown, the lengthened central feathers black ; scapulars black 

 edged with grey ; wing-coverts and primaries ashy brown, the greater 

 series of coverts tipped with clear buff; secondaries glossy green, with a 

 subterminal band of black and broad white tips ; tertiaries ashy brown, 

 with the central portion of each feather blackish ; sides of the body barred 

 with black and white like the back ; lower abdomen and vent white stippled 

 with brown ; under tail-coverts black. 



The female has the whole head and neck fulvous-white streaked with 

 brown, the crown and hind neck darker than the other parts ; the upper 

 plumage and wing-coverts dark brown edged with rufous, and the feathers 

 of the back also with double bar-like spots on the centres ; greater wing- 

 coverts tipped with white as those of the male are with buff; secondaries 



