

PINTAIL. NATATORES. QUERQUEDULA. 3il 



This genus is distinguished from the two preceding ones 

 by the form of the bill, which is longer and proportionably 

 narrower, assuming a semi-cylindrical shape. The laminae 

 of the bill are also short, being in most species scarcely vi- 

 sible below the deflected edges of the mandible. By many 

 recent systematists, the Pintail (Anas acuta of LINNAEUS) 

 has been separated from the other Teals, on account of the 

 greater elongation of the two middle-tail feathers, and made 

 the type of a genus, called Dafila by Dr LEACH. But as 

 the bill of the only known species displays the same form as 

 that of the Common Teal, and the structure of its trachea 

 is also similar, I have ventured, though not without hesita- 

 tion, to retain it in the present genus. The Teals are, for 

 the most part, of inferior size to the species of the preceding 

 groups, some of them being amongst the smallest of the Ana- 

 tidce. Their form is rather slender, and, from their great 

 length of wing and development of tail, they fly with strength 

 and rapidity. They inhabit the interior parts of the 

 try, and are but seldom found upon the sea-shores. 



COMMON PINTAIL. 



QUERQUEDULA ACUTA, Mihi. 

 PLATE XLIX. & PLATE LI. FIG. 2. 



Anas acuta, Linn. Syst. 1. 202. 28 Gmel Syst. 1. 528 Lath. Ind. Ornith. 



2. 864. sp. 81 Wils. Amer. Orn. 8. 75. pi. 68. f. 3. male Flem. Br. 



Anim. 1. 124. sp. 189. 



Anas caudacuta, Rail Syn. 147- A. 5 Will. 289. t. 72. 

 Anas longicauda, Briss. 6. 639. 16. t. 34. f. 1, 2. 

 Dafila caudacuta, Stephens, Shaw's Zool. 12. 127. pi- 49. 

 Canard a longue queue, Buff. Ois. 9. 19?. t. 73. Id. PI. Enl. 954. Temm, 



Man. d'Orn. 2. 838. 



Spiessente, Bechst. Naturg. Deut. 4. 1116. Meyer, Tasschenb. Deut. 2. 536. 

 Sea Pheasant or Craiker, Will. (Angl.) 376. t. 73 Albinos Birds, 2. t. 94, 



95 Flem. Br. Anim. 1. 124. sp. 189. 

 Pintail, Br. Zool. 2. No. 282 Arct. Zool. 2. No. 500 Lath. Syn. 526. 72. 



Id- Sup. 2. 354 Lewin's Br. Birds, 7- 261 Mont. Ornith. Diet, and 



Sup Bewick's Br. Birds, ed. 1826 Wils. Amer. Orn. 8. 72. pi. 68. f. 3. 



male. 



