312 NATATORES. QUERQUEDULA. PINTAIL. 



THE slender neck, pheasant-like tail, and superior light- 

 ness of model in this Duck, have bestowed upon it an ap- 

 pearance of elegance unknown to most of the other species. 

 Periodical It is with us a regular winter visitant ; and considerable 

 numbers are annually taken in the decoys of Lincolnshire, 

 Norfolk, &c. MONTAGU says that it is most abundant in 

 the north of England and Scotland, and especially in the 

 Orkney Islands. This assertion, however, I must in part 

 contradict, as the result of long observation tells me it is of 

 rare occurrence in the northern counties of England ; and 

 the same may be said of the southern districts of Scotland, 

 which Dr FLEMING confirms in his History of British Ani- 

 mals. With respect to the Orkneys, I cannot speak so 

 confidently, although it appears probable, that what had 

 been 'represented to him as the present species, was in fact 

 the Long-tailed Duck (Havelda glacialis)^ which is found 

 in great numbers during the winter in the bays of this 

 group of isknds. The Pintail has a wide geographical 

 range, being met with in all the northern parts of Europe, 

 Asia, and America, and retires in the summer to breed in 

 high latitudes. Its equatorial migration extends as far as 

 Italy ; and during its periodical flight to the southward, it 

 occurs abundantly in Holland, France, Germany, and other 

 continental states. The marshes of the interior parts of the 

 country, and fresh- water lakes, are its usual places of resort, 

 Food, being rarely found upon the sea- coast. Its food consists of 

 insects and their larvae, the seeds of aquatic plants, particu- 

 larly of some species of Epilobium, and vegetables. It is of 

 a shy and timorous disposition ; and in North America, 

 where it is plentiful, often disappoints the wild-fowl shooter, 

 by giving the signal to its numerous associates before he can 

 advance within gunshot. Upon rising, when alarmed, the 

 birds of this species cluster confusedly together, and (as 

 WILSON observes), if within distance, give the sportsman a 

 fair opportunity of raking them advantageously. They sel- 

 dom dive, seeming only when wounded to have recourse 



