50 THE FOWLER IN IRELAND. 



Pheasant," or " Spear Wigeon," on account of the 

 elongated tail-feathers of the male bird. Of all 

 Ducks that swim none are of a more graceful shape, 

 or so delicate in flavour. They are, however, some- 

 what subdued in colour, and the mallard has not the 

 brilliant feathers of other species of wildfowl, such as 

 Duck, Wigeon, Shoveller, and Teal. Though not 

 heavy birds, they are the longest among the Duck, 

 which gives them a most elegant appearance on the 

 water. By the snow-white neck and breast, a male 

 Pintail can be identified at a long distance, and may 

 be at once discerned among other fowl. When in 

 numbers they are wild, as others of their tribe ; but 

 if a few only are together they are very tame. Their 

 movements on the wing bear a closer resemblance 

 to those of Divers than do any of the true Ducks. 

 They are fast fliers, but no particular form of flight 

 is adhered to, as with Ducks and Geese. They 

 affect the society of other fowl, especially Wigeon. 

 On rising in company with the latter, Pintails soon 

 out-distance them ; but will often drop back to 

 rejoin their companions, and pitch with them. 



Pintail clo not frequent the north of Ireland, 

 and are rarely met with on the great loughs of 

 Antrim, Londonderry, Down, and Donegal. South 

 of Athlone they are not uncommon. On Castle 

 Gregory Lake, co. Kerry, I have seen them in 

 hundreds. Though rare in Dublin Bay, they are 

 often shot at Malahide, nine miles distant. 



On the estuaries of Clare, Connaught, and Kerry 

 they are numerous, and a hundred to three hundred 

 may often be seen together. They do not much 

 fancy the far inland fresh waters, but I have seen 



